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.