Aceh protesters seek UN attention

Aceh protesters seek UN attention

JAKARTA: Around 50 youths grouped in the Student Solidarity
for Aceh (Somaka) demonstrated Friday in front of the gates of
the United Nations building here in Central Jakarta.

They demanded that the UN pressure the government into
settling human rights abuses in Aceh, citing distrust of the
government.

"Until now we have not seen any seriousness or good intention
from the Armed Forces leaders or the government to follow up on
the results of the fact-finding team of the House of
Representatives and the National Commission on Human Rights,"
Somaka coordinator, Fajran, said, Antara reported.

Students demanded that the UN and the international community
should not discriminate in promoting human rights, citing lack of
attention to sufferings of the Acehnese during the military
operations from 1989 to 1998.

"Aceh women are not sex dolls of the military," read one of
their posters, referring to the many rapes and sexual assaults
reported from Aceh during the operations. "Aceh women are not the
military's bumpers," read another, alluding to allegations of
methods used by the military to lure suspected separatists
through abduction and torture of their wives.

The students demanded immediate sanctions be imposed on the
"elites" responsible for the operations. UN information staffer
Samsuddin Berlian said he would convey the students' wishes to
the UN representatives in Jakarta and New York.