TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)

20 May 2003

EMERGENCY PROTEST AND URGENT ACTION ON ACEH

The Indonesian Government has this week launched an all-out war in the province of Aceh. Aceh could become another East Timor. Around 50,000 Indonesian troops will be involved. The most high-tech military equipment, including British-made Scorpion tanks and Hawk jets, are being used (see  http://tapol.gn.apc.org/pr030519.htm or  http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,959492,00.html)

Human rights groups fear that the military operations will result in massive violations of human rights and widespread loss of life. The majority of victims are likely to be civilians. Human rights defenders in particular are at grave risk. Many of the troops will be deployed to the operation of the US oil-giant, Exxon Mobil, associated with numerous right violations in the past

The war will cost impoverished Indonesia tens of millions of $ and it will mean that Aceh will forfeit millions of $ in development aid promised by an international donors' conference last December

Aceh, on the northwestern tip of the island of Sumatra has been an area of intense conflict between the Indonesian armed forces, TNI, and the Free Aceh Movement, GAM, which is pressing for independence from Indonesia, for over 26 years. It has cost around 15,000 lives. A peace process mediated by the Geneva-based Henri Dunant Centre has been destroyed by the Government's declaration of martial law and its military offensive.

Please do all you can to oppose this brutal war by:

* Joining a protest outside the Foreign Office, Whitehall from 12:00 to 2:00 pm on Friday 23 May. Bring banners, placards etc.

* Faxing a letter to the British Government expressing your grave concern about the military operations, protesting about the use of Hawk aircraft and Scorpion tanks in breach of assurances given by the Indonesian Government, and calling upon the British Government to demand the immediate withdrawal of the equipment. Write to: Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London SW1A 2AH, Fax 020 7839 2417.

* Faxing a letter to your MP asking him/her to sign EDM 1161 on Aceh (see below), to table parliamentary questions, and to use all other parliamentary means at his/her disposal to oppose the military operations and protest against the use of British-made arms. Write to [name] MP, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA. Obtain the fax number by calling the MP's office via the House of Commons switchboard on 020 7219 3000

* Faxing a letter to the Indonesian Government and the Indonesian Embassy in London protesting about the war in Aceh. Write to President Megawati Sukarnoputri, President of Indonesia, Istana Merdeka, Jakarta 10110, Indonesia, Fax +62 21 345 2685/526 8726/345 7782; Mr Nicholas T Dammen, Charge d'Affaires, Indonesian Embassy, 38 Grosvenor Square, London W1X 9AD, Fax 020 7491 4993.

* Faxing a letter to Exxon Mobil expressing concern about their involvement in past abuses and informing them that the human rights situation in the vicinity of their operations will be closely monitored during the military offensive. Write to Lee R Raymond, Chairman/Chief Executive, Exxon Mobil, 5959 Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, Texas 75039, USA, Fax +1 972 444 1000.

* Organising your own local actions and support groups on Aceh.

For more information, contact Paul Barber, TAPOL, on 01420 80153,  plovers@gn.apc.org or Ann Feltham, CAAT, on 020 7281 0297,  ann@caat.demon.co.uk

Thank you for your valuable support.

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EDM 1161 on Aceh

EDM 1161

SITUATION IN ACEH 08.05.03

Corbyn/Jeremy

That this House is alarmed at reports of new troop deployment in Aceh by Indonesian forces; understands from published reports that over 2,500 troops supported by aircraft, tanks and amphibians are preparing for a new round of action; requests that the Foreign Secretary make immediate representations to the Indonesian Government to halt the military action, re-state the peace process and allow international observers to visit Aceh; and is further concerned that, despite previous assurances, UK military equipment is being prepared for use in these intended military operations by the Indonesian Government.