Jakarta, Sept. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indonesian government will provide former Aceh rebels with a living allowance for a period of three to six months to help them start a new life, a senior official said Thursday.

    Each member of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) will get 5,000 rupiah (50 US cents) worth of allowance consisting of cash money and in kind such as rice and cooking oil per day, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab was quoted by the Antaranews agency as saying.

    "It is reasonable as tsunami victims also get the same quantity of assistance," he said.

    He said the government would entrust the distribution of the assistance to the regional administration.

    "It will be given to them right after they come down from the jungles," he said.

    Based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by representatives of the government and the GAM in Helsinki, Finland,last month, the number of GAM members was recorded at around 3,000.The minister said the government has not yet decided the exact number of the GAM members to receive the assistance.

    Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah said the funds for the assistance for former GAM members would come from national budget and donors. Enditem