JAKARTA, Aug. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Indonesian Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin said Thursday the amnesties pledged by the government to members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) would be granted by the end of this month.

    "Hopefully, all the amnesties will have been granted by Aug. 31at the latest," said the minister who was quoted by the Antara news agency during a visit to the Sukamiskin penitentiary in Bandung, West Java.

    Hamid, who was the chief negotiator for the Indonesian government at the informal talks with GAM to end the armed conflict in the oil-rich province, was visiting Sukamiskin prison to oversee the preparations for a ceremony marking the release of GAM members after the granting of amnesty.

    During his visit, Hamid talked to 18 GAM members detained in Sukamiskin penitentiary. "I have come here to discuss how to return them to Aceh after the granting of amnesties," he said.

    The government would first seek approval from the House of Representatives before granting the amnesties, Hamid said. "That's why the government and the House will hold a consultation meeting to discuss the amnesty as soon as possible," he added.

    According to Hamid, there are 500 GAM prisoners held in jails across Java island. Enditem