PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA

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The following open letter was sent by TAPOL, CAFOD, Catholic Institute for International Relations and Oxford Papuan Rights Campaign to British Foreign Office Minister, Douglas Alexander, on 17 November 2004

See also press release dated 17 November 2004

Douglas Alexander,
Minister of State,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
London SW1A 2AH

Dear Mr Alexander,

International access to Aceh and West Papua

We are writing to ask for your support in urging the Indonesian Government to allow diplomats, international agencies, NGOs and journalists unrestricted access to Aceh and West Papua so that they can contribute to peace-building, humanitarian assistance and human rights protection activities in those areas.

We believe that the recent inauguration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as President of Indonesia and the renewal of Aceh's civil emergency status present an ideal opportunity for you to press the Indonesian Government on this issue, especially as the President has said on several occasions that he is committed to resolving the conflicts in Aceh and West Papua.

Our request is also prompted by a disturbing report that foreign journalists have been banned from entering the two provinces until further notice. We understand the decision was made on 23 September, purportedly for "security reasons", by a committee of 15 government

institution including the army, the intelligence agency BIN, police, immigration, the security ministry and the Foreign Affairs Department.

Such a ban will be a serious obstacle to democratisation and peace-building efforts in Aceh and West Papua and we believe it should be vigorously opposed. It comes at a time when military operations are continuing in Aceh, despite the change of status from military emergency to civil emergency in May this year, and when military operations have escalated in the Punjak Jaya region of West Papua, resulting in the deaths of three civilians and the forced displacement of thousands. We have also received reports that local journalists working in West Papua have faced growing intimidation and threats.

In Aceh the civil emergency status continues to place severe restrictions on the work of local and international organisations. There are restrictions on entry to the province, on travel within the province and on working with local people and organisations. Local NGOs have reported that the restrictions and threats of violence have made their tasks of providing

humanitarian assistance and carrying out human rights monitoring difficult, if not impossible. The restrictions on international agencies and NGOs have resulted in economic hardship, the inability of foreigners to act as witnesses and deterrents to violence against civilians, and the loss of moral, physical and financial assistance to local organisations.

In the circumstances, we ask you to urge the Indonesian Government to:

a) Lift the prohibition on foreign journalists entering Aceh and West Papua and ensure that they are able to carry out their work free from threats and intimidation;

b) To remove current restrictions on diplomats, international agencies and NGOs working in Aceh and West Papua;

c) Allow foreign staff of international agencies and NGOs to work in all areas of Aceh;

d) Lift the restrictions on international agencies working and NGOs with and providing assistance to local people and organisations in Aceh.

We are grateful to you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Barber
TAPOL

Catherine Sexton
Head of Asia section, CAFOD

Colette Fearon
Regional Manager, Africa, Middle East & Asia, Catholic Institute for International Relations

Richard Samuelson
Oxford Papuan Rights Campaign

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