The trial of six men accused of killing three foreign (an American, Croatian and an Ethiopian) aid workers in West Timor last September ended in conviction. But to the surprise and dismay of everyone, the men were only sentenced to 16-20 months in jail. The UN protested the light sentences. The sentencing judge dropped the manslaughter charge and noted that the men had no prior record. Indonesian popular opinion favored the accused, as the UN intervention in East Timor was, and still is, very unpopular. In Aceh, rebel violence continued, leaving two dead.