PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA
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The following is the text of a letter sent to Foreign Office Minister, John Battle, on 7 November 2000
See also letter dated 27 October 2000 and Urgent Action, 8 November 2000
John Battle
Minister of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1
Unprecedented attack on freedom of movement and assembly in Aceh
Alarming reports are being received from Aceh about actions by the security forces, in particular the police, to prevent tens of thousands of people from travelling to Banda Aceh to attend a Mass Rally planned for 11 November. In one incident, police opened fire on a convoy of vehicles early this morning, injuring two persons, and forcing the people to turn back, In another incident one hour later, a convoy of five vehicles was set upon and halted; the vehicles were forced to enter the police compound where they were badly damaged and stocks of food were confiscated. In a third incident, eight hundred people who tried to make the journey on fishing vessels were preventing from disembarking by police standing on armoured personnel carriers and shooting into the air from a bridge. They were forced to abandon their attempt to reach Banda Aceh.
It is quite intolerable for the security forces to use firepower against unarmed civilians and to prevent huge numbers of people from travelling to Banda Aceh for a peaceful rally. This is a grave violation of the freedom of movement and freedom of assembly and should be strongly condemned.
We therefore call on the British government:
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To make the strongest possible representations to the authorities in Jakarta to order the security authorities to halt these actions and allow people in Aceh the freedom to travel without let or hindrance.
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To warn the Indonesian government that the use of firepower against unarmed civilians is quite unacceptable.
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To insist that any member of the security forces responsible for the wounding or death of unarmed civilians should be prosecuted before a court of law.
We very much fear that failure by the government to make such representations will result in many casualties, including loss of life, during the next few days.
Yours sincerely,
Carmel Budiardjo
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