Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:478 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are human rights monitors on the deployment of 2,000 additional troops to the Aceh conflict zone. [1554/05]
View answerWednesday, 26 January 2005
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Deputies will be aware that the epicentre of the earthquake which caused the tsunami was about 155 miles south-southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh. Accurate figures for the death toll have been difficult to ascertain, but on 25 January 2005, the Indonesian authorities announced they were lowering the confirmed death toll to 96,000 but raising the number of missing and presumed dead to 132,000. Most of the deaths occurred in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra, both directly hit by the tsunami. It is likely that the final death toll may never be known. Approximately 800,000 people were made homeless in these two provinces.
On my recent visit to tsunami affected countries, I visited the province of Aceh. The scale of the destruction in the city of Banda Aceh, which I personally witnessed, is truly appalling. The loss of life and destruction of property are almost beyond words. There is a clear and acute need for ongoing international assistance for the emergency and for recovery efforts afterwards. The Government is supporting key UN agencies and NGOs in meeting the immediate needs of those most affected.
Aceh has in the past been largely inaccessible to foreigners, as it is under a state of civil emergency — declared in May 2004 — resulting from a separatist insurgency there. On 13 January 2005, the Free Aceh Movement, GAM, announced an indefinite ceasefire, and reconfirmed a truce announced on 26 December 2004, the day the tsunami struck. GAM's leadership has offered to meet the Indonesian government and we understand that a meeting between the two sides will take place in Finland this week. In this regard, I discussed all aspects of the relief operation, including the possibility of peace talks in Helsinki between the Indonesian government and GAM, with my Swedish and Finnish colleagues on Monday last. In addition, the tsunami disaster will be under discussion at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on Monday next, 31 January. I also intend to discuss the situation with the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York next month.
EU heads of mission in Indonesia continue to follow the situation in Aceh, and will, in all their contacts with the Indonesian authorities, insist that due regard be given to the human rights of individuals living in areas where the Indonesian army, TNI, operates. However, internal deployment of the Indonesian armed forces is the responsibility of the Indonesian Government and is not monitored on the ground by external human rights monitors.
At the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, of 11 October 2004, the Council adopted conclusions on Indonesia. The council encouraged the Indonesian Government to seek peaceful solutions in conflict and potential conflict areas and welcomed the statement by President Yudhoyono that he intended to implement special autonomy for Papua and Aceh. The council also asked the authorities to provide normal access to the province of Aceh for international non-governmental organisations as well as the possibility of field visits by diplomats. The Council hoped that the new President would make further advances in all aspects of human rights.