“Statement of Solidarity for the Acehnese,” IMCS Asia Pacific et al, http://www.asnlf.net/asnlf_int/news/041102_statementofsolidarity.htm, 30 October 2004.
I haven’t blogged on the terrible tsunami, because so many can express the tragedy so much better.
One of the things that made it so much worse is the unrest that already existed. Aceh, Indonesia was very, very badly hit. Entire villiages have been swept away. It’s also been struggling for its independence for many years.
Browing the web I found the following statement. It is worth a read. I’ll let it speak for itself — no further comment.
Statement of Solidarity for the Acehnese
We, the International Movement of Catholic Students Asia Pasific (IMCS Asia Pacific), composed by Catholic student movement of Asia, acknowledges and respect the self-determination rights of Acehnese people. We oppose the Martial Law, which led the inhumane actions taken by Indonesia Military (TNI) towards the children, students and senior citizens in Aceh. The Acehnese people should protected by international human right laws and democratic referendum on their independence or autonomy is needed.
We call on the governments to recognize the status of Acehnese as asylum seekers who fled to other countries. They are political refugees admitted by UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and their safety and life should be protected by government authorities. We also urge the countries that have not signed ratified the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees to do so.
Penang, 30 October 2004.
In Solidarity,
IMCS Asia Pacific
IMCS International Team
All India Catholic University Federation
Bangladesh Catholic Student Society
Catholic Association UMac (Macau)
Catholic Student Groups in Japan
Catholic Undergraduate Centre of Thailand
Eindoven Student Church (Holland)
Hanoi Catholic Student Movement (Vietnam)
Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students
IMCS Pakistan
Malaysia Catholic Student’s Council
Myanmar Young Catholic Student (Bangkok)
Sri Lanka Catholic University Student Movement
Student Christian Movement Philippines
Union of All Catholic Student of Republic of Indonesia (PMKRI)
