Solidarity with Aceh grows

BY PIP HINMAN & STUART MUNCKTON

As news of Indonesian military atrocities in Aceh — including girls as young as six being raped — spreads, so does the solidarity with the Acehnese people's struggle for democracy.

On June 5, 33 people gathered outside the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur for a candlelight vigil organised by Solidarity for Aceh. The coalition is calling on GAM and the Indonesian government to agree to a cease-fire and resume negotiations.

It is also calling on the Indonesian government to: allow international peace observers to monitor human rights and development programs; create an independent commission to investigate the attacks and killings and bring the perpetrators to justice; allow the Acehnese people freedom of expression; and abandon the subversion article in the criminal code for which the ultimate penalty is the death sentence.

The group is also calling on the Malaysian government to broker a peace plan and facilitate a long-term solution to the conflict in Aceh.

In Canberra on June 6, protesters demanded Indonesia cease its war on Aceh. Organised by the socialist youth organisation Resistance, the picket also called for the Australian government to cease all military ties with Indonesia.

In Sydney supporters of peace in Aceh are discussing plans to broaden the campaign.

TAPOL, the Indonesian Human Rights Campaign, based in Britain, has drafted an international statement calling for a global arms embargo with the Indonesia military. It is being circulated for signature and can be read at <http://www.tapol.gn.apc.org> or <http://www.asia-pacific-action.org>. To sign on, contact Paul Barber at <plovers@gn.apc.org>.

From Green Left Weekly, June 11, 2003.

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From GLW issue 541