Aid groups urged to provide lists of workers

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - Indonesia's military asked aid groups in tsunami-stricken areas Monday to draw up a list of international relief workers - and to report on their movements - as fears arose for the safety of foreigners helping survivors in a region wracked by rebellion long before the waves hit.

The request underlined the unease with which Indonesia has faced the growth of the biggest aid operation in history, replete with foreign soldiers and civilian humanitarian workers.

Indonesian authorities have long been wary of foreigners' presence in the tsunami-stricken Aceh province, where separatists have been fighting government troops for more than 20 years. Foreigners were banned from the province at the northern tip of Sumatra island until the earthquake hit Dec. 26, touching off the tsunami.

Although the government has portrayed the rebels as ruthless killers willing to attack aid convoys and use refugee camps as hideouts, the military has yet to offer evidence to back its claims. Clashes between Indonesian troops and separatists have subsided since the disaster.

However, security concerns have also been heightened by the appearance of an Islamic extremist group with alleged links to al-Qaida. The group, Laskar Mujahidin, which has been involved in armed clashes with Christians in other parts of Indonesia, is distributing aid and has promised not to attack foreigners.

United Nations staff in Aceh are on high alert and armed guards patrol their compounds.

Joel Boutroue, head of the U.N. relief effort in Aceh, said he did not believe Indonesia was trying to impede aid efforts with its request for information.

"It's normal they want to know where people are," he said. "I think it's a legitimate concern for the security of relief workers, considering the environment in which we're working."

In the hard-hit village of Meulaboh, residents watched the landing of U.S. troops bringing aid with wonder and relief.

"We have lost everything. We can't think about the future," said Rajadin Amkar, who lost his wife and newborn daughter. "They can think about these things. It's reassuring."

Only about 10 Marines landed Monday, because of Indonesian government concerns about security and the presence of foreign troops. U.S. military helicopters have been bringing in aid for more than a week.