Two Acehnese slip into Finnish Embassy<\/p>\n
Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Two civilian members of the Aceh-Sumatra National Liberation
\nFront (ASNLF) requested asylum upon entering the Finnish Embassy
\nin Jakarta on Wednesday, saying that they feared for their lives.<\/p>\n
After meeting with Ambassador Matti Pullinen, the two men,
\nidentified as Ermiadi and Nasruddin Syah, later left the embassy
\nthrough a back exit, and headed for the United Nations High
\nCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesian soldiers have killed many of our men, families and
\nbrothers -- we ourselves fear for our lives,\" Nasruddin Syah told
\nreporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is currently engaging military
\ntroops and police in Aceh.<\/p>\n
GAM rebels have been fighting for an independent state in Aceh
\nsince 1976. An estimated 10,000 people, mainly civilians, have
\ndied since.<\/p>\n
After reaching the Arya building, in which the UNHCR office is
\nlocated, Nasruddin said that he was informed at the embassy that
\nasylum was normally granted to asylum-seekers upon arrival in
\nFinland -- and not until after much consideration.<\/p>\n
\"It seems as if they do not give asylum to people at their
\nembassies ... which is fine -- at least they helped us get to the
\nUNHCR office, which should be working on our asylum request
\nsoon,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We just do not want to stay in Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
After both men entered the lobby of the Finnish Embassy, on
\nthe ninth floor of a city skyscraper, they displayed written
\nmessages to reporters waiting outside the locked glass doors.<\/p>\n
One message said that they were seeking asylum from Finland
\nbecause \"they support our struggle.\"<\/p>\n
\"Our lives are threatened -- Indonesian forces have killed so
\nmany of our brothers and sisters,\" read another message.<\/p>\n
Another note demanded that the Paris Club of creditors to
\nIndonesia, who will meet on Thursday to discuss rescheduling the
\ncountry's debt, cease all financial aid to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Stop Paris Club Aid for Indonesia -- they use the Aid to kill
\nAcehnese people,\" another note said.<\/p>\n
Police officers, who had been waiting outside the embassy,
\ntold reporters that they had no plans of placing the two men
\nunder arrest.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-acehnese-slip-into-finnish-embassy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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