Acehnese rebel group members seek asylum at Finnish Embassy

Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two civilian members of the Aceh-Sumatra National Liberation Front (ASNLF) requested asylum upon entering the Finnish Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday, saying that they feared for their lives.

After meeting with Ambassador Matti Pullinen, the two men, identified as Ermiadi and Nasruddin Syah, later left the embassy through a back exit, and headed for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Central Jakarta.

"Indonesian soldiers have killed many of our men, families and brothers -- we ourselves fear for our lives," Nasruddin Syah told reporters on Wednesday.

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is currently engaging military troops and police in Aceh.

GAM rebels have been fighting for an independent state in Aceh since 1976. An estimated 10,000 people, mainly civilians, have died since.

After reaching the Arya building, in which the UNHCR office is located, Nasruddin said that he was informed at the embassy that asylum was normally granted to asylum-seekers upon arrival in Finland -- and not until after much consideration.

"It seems as if they do not give asylum to people at their embassies ... which is fine -- at least they helped us get to the UNHCR office, which should be working on our asylum request soon," he said.

"We just do not want to stay in Indonesia."

After both men entered the lobby of the Finnish Embassy, on the ninth floor of a city skyscraper, they displayed written messages to reporters waiting outside the locked glass doors.

One message said that they were seeking asylum from Finland because "they support our struggle."

"Our lives are threatened -- Indonesian forces have killed so many of our brothers and sisters," read another message.

Another note demanded that the Paris Club of creditors to Indonesia, who will meet on Thursday to discuss rescheduling the country's debt, cease all financial aid to Jakarta.

"Stop Paris Club Aid for Indonesia -- they use the Aid to kill Acehnese people," another note said.

Police officers, who had been waiting outside the embassy, told reporters that they had no plans of placing the two men under arrest.