Canadian NGOs Demand Demilitarization of Aid in Aceh
Press Action
Thursday, January 06, 2005
http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/full_article/canadianngos01062005/
Indonesian Military Threatens to Continue Attacks
A coalition of major Canadian civil society and aid groups are calling on the Prime Minister to demand that the Indonesian government cease all non-aid related military operations in Aceh immediately in the aftermath of the Dec. 26 Tsunami. “We condemn the Indonesian military’s failure to adhere to a ceasefire in Aceh province as it significantly hinders the delivery of emergency aid,” said Nancy Slamet, South East Asia Program Officer for Kairos Canada.
The coalition includes Canadian aid agencies and NGOs (including Rights and Democracy, Kairos, Development and Peace, Alternatives, and others) focused on human rights and development issues in Indonesia. The demand was sent on the eve of a major summit in Jakarta where Canada’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will discuss the relief efforts with other governments.
Military Refuses Ceasefire…
Despite Indonesian military chief General Endriartono Sutarto’s assurances on Monday January 3 of a ceasefire in Aceh province, the military headquarters general information department announced that military operations would continue. Lieutenant Colonel Nachrowi, speaking on behalf of the department, has stated that the Indonesian military will continue to launch raids into suspected GAM (Free Aceh Movement) areas as part of their on-going security operations.
“We are deeply concerned by these statements,” comments Slamet, “given the difficultly of contacting remote areas of Aceh province, the only way to ensure that aid operations will not be furthered hindered by the military’s counter-insurgency activities is for them to join GAM in an immediate and definite ceasefire.”
... Continuing it’s Dirty Little War in Aceh
“The Indonesian military fears allowing free access to the region for international aid organizations and journalists as they have been engaged in a dirty war there for many years,” comments Alex Hill, Indonesia Program Officer for Alternatives.
Indonesia has prevented journalists and aid organizations access to Aceh since May 2003, and persecute local NGOs. As a result, the region has virtually no civil infrastructure to respond to the current crisis.
Moreover, the delivery of aid by a military actively engaged in a counter insurgency campaign breeds fear and confusion among the recipients, preventing many of the needy from receiving help for fear of being mistaken for rebels.
Canadian Groups Make Demands on Pettigrew, Carroll and Graham
In a letter sent today to the Ministers responsible for Canada’s response to the Tsunami, the coalition argues that the army’s leading role in delivering aid is problematic and has compromised the Acehnese people’s welfare. Thus we are calling on the Government of Canada to:
1. Press the Indonesian military to adhere to a ceasefire and a halt to all non-aid related military operations;
2. Demand that law enforcement around aid efforts be handled by the police in Aceh and under the supervision of the UN;
3. Press the Indonesian government to allow unrestricted access to the entire province by international and Indonesian aid workers and journalists; and
4. Channel and deliver all Canadian aid through effective mechanisms with a priority to international, Canadian and local civil society organizations.
For More Information Contact:
Toronto : Nancy Slamet tel : 1.416.463.5312 Ext. 226 Fax : 1.416.463.5569 nslamet (at) kairoscanada.org KAIROS : Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives/ Initiatives canadiennes oecuméniques pour la justice 129 St. Clair Avenue West Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 1N5
Montreal : Micheline (Mika) Lévesque tel: 1-514-283-6073 fax : 1-514-283-3792 mlevesque (at) dd-rd.ca Droits et démocratie - Rights and Democracy 1001, boul. de Maisonneuve Est Bureau 1100, Montréal Québec, Canada H2L 4P9
British Columbia : Rita Parikh tel : (250) 381-4131 fax : (250) 388-5258 Pacific Peoples’ Partnership Suite 407 - 620 View Street Victoria, BC Canada V8W 1J6