It severely disabled the rebel movement, and along with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami brought the 30-year conflict in Aceh to an end.

Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders based in Sweden refused the ultimatum, but the United States, Japan, and the European Union urged both sides to avoid armed conflict and resume peace talks in Tokyo.

On 16 May 2003, the government stated that the offer of autonomy was the final concession it would make to GAM, and the rejection of the ultimatum would lead to military operations against the movement.

General Sutarto also imposed martial law in Aceh for a period of six months and the Indonesian government subsequently deployed 1,500 soldiers and 12,000 police to the province.

[citation needed] Acehnese refugees in Malaysia have reported widespread abuses in Aceh, which was closed to observers during the military operation.