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Rights groups call for arms embargo on Indonesia
Jakarta, June 24: Human rights and peace groups from around the world have called for an international military embargo on Indonesia, whose troops are waging an all-out offensive against separatist rebels in Aceh.
Jakarta, June 24: Human rights and peace groups from around the world have called for an international military embargo on Indonesia, whose troops are waging an all-out offensive against separatist rebels in Aceh.
The 90 groups and individuals signed a statement citing
the deterioration of Indonesian military reform efforts "and
the concurrent rise in the Indonesian military's lawlessness
and brutality".
Now in its second month, the military operation in Aceh is causing widespread civilian loss of life and has prompted fears for the safety of human rights defenders and civil society activists, the statement said.
The armed forces are using British, US and French military equipment in the operation.
"Given the backdrop of mounting casualties, wanton killings and human rights abuses attributable to the TNI (armed forces) in Aceh and Papua, we believe it is intolerable for governments to engage with the TNI on a business-as-usual basis," the statement said.
Among the incidents it referred to in Papua province was the August 2002 ambush killing of two American schoolteachers and their Indonesian colleagues near the Freeport gold and copper mine.
Police have said a witness implicated the military in the ambush but the army blamed separatist rebels.
Signatories to the statement include the family of one of the Freeport victims, churches, the Indonesia human rights campaign in Britain known as Tapol, and the international service for human rights in Geneva. Bureau Report
Now in its second month, the military operation in Aceh is causing widespread civilian loss of life and has prompted fears for the safety of human rights defenders and civil society activists, the statement said.
The armed forces are using British, US and French military equipment in the operation.
"Given the backdrop of mounting casualties, wanton killings and human rights abuses attributable to the TNI (armed forces) in Aceh and Papua, we believe it is intolerable for governments to engage with the TNI on a business-as-usual basis," the statement said.
Among the incidents it referred to in Papua province was the August 2002 ambush killing of two American schoolteachers and their Indonesian colleagues near the Freeport gold and copper mine.
Police have said a witness implicated the military in the ambush but the army blamed separatist rebels.
Signatories to the statement include the family of one of the Freeport victims, churches, the Indonesia human rights campaign in Britain known as Tapol, and the international service for human rights in Geneva. Bureau Report