Two Acehnese slip into Finnish Embassy

Two Acehnese slip into 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.