The member churches of the National Council of Churches of Australia today raised concerns about the conflict unfolding in Aceh and called on the Australian Government to make every effort to secure independent human rights monitoring and humanitarian assistance to this region of Indonesia.

Although news from Aceh is limited and independent human rights monitors have been forced into hiding, reports of the massive military campaign in this region are alarming.  They indicate that serious human rights violations are occurring and that a humanitarian disaster is looming.

Many villagers caught up in this conflict have been subject to rights violations including extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, and destruction of schools, houses and even whole villages.  Activists including human rights workers have been put on ‘wanted’ lists and, in some cases, those arrested by the military have ‘disappeared’.  Reports of the displacement of many thousands of people also raise concerns about the humanitarian needs of a population that has few reserves of food and shelter.

The member churches are very concerned about this crisis and pray that the warring parties will end hostilities and return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

National sovereignty should not be a barrier to international action when human rights abuses are occurring.  For the sake of the Acehnese people, we call for the access of United Nations Human Rights monitors and humanitarian agencies, noting that the UN often operates in such capacities within the borders of sovereign states.

We also support the immediate access of humanitarian NGO’s to assist with provision of food, shelter and medical assistance to those who are being displaced and injured in these military operations.

We call on the Australian government to urge the Indonesian government through all available avenues to accept independent human rights monitoring and humanitarian assistance as a matter of urgency in Aceh.