Victims and victim's families of human rights violation in Aceh will hold a congregation in the province capitol city, Banda Aceh,on November 4-6, 2000. This event called "Kongres Korban Pelanggaran HAM Aceh" (Gathering of the Victims of Human Rights Violation in Aceh).
375 victims as spokesperson from seven conflict regions of Aceh, and hundreds of victims in the role of supporting mass will attend the gathering.
Purposes of the gathering are:
1. Reinforcing brotherhood among human rights violation victims in Aceh.
2. Formulating victims' aspiration to solve human rights cases, they have
experienced.
3. Encouraging public solidarity to stop human rights violations in Aceh.
The gathering is organized by victims themselves, and supported by student groups and NGOs in Aceh.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Faisal Hadi
Aceh NGOs Coalition for Human Rights
Jl. Sudirman No. 11 A, Geuceu
Banda Aceh 23239
Indonesia
Tel: 62-651-41998, 47843
Fax: 62-651-47839
E-mail: koalisi-ham@aceh.wasantara.net.id
Background information:
During the Province of Aceh designated as a Military Operation Zone (1989-1998) by the Indonesian government, all kinds of human rights violations have been committed against the civilian population on a very huge scale. After the abolishment of the Military Operation Zone in August 7, 1998, serious human rights violations continued to be committed, even under the so-called "Humanitarian Pause". Up till the end of September, 2000, thousands civilian continued to be the victims of human rights violations in Aceh as the Indonesian government continued their military actions to eradicate the Free Aceh Movement.
Those thousands victims, indeed, not just a death number with no voice. That number tells about thousands of fatherless child, thousands of widow, people who lost their child, brother, and sister. That number also remains persons who became invalid, women who lost their honor, and people who lost their hope. This misery has assembled them into a community: The Victims and the Victim's Family of Human Rights Violation in Aceh.
Their enormous number brought them to be subject of talks, object of sympathies and condolences. Many groups and individuals have stand for them to bring back their dignity and justice for them. Up until now, efforts to seek justice for them have been unsuccessful. Among other things, could be due to the lack of direct involvement of the victims themselves. Thus far, others voiced their wishes. In fact the victims and their families is a community who capable to articulate what to do to heal their sorrow. They could expand their potency to fight for justice and dignity. The first step to take is, to bring together all of their potencies right through every part of Aceh. And a gathering is an appropriate way to do so.
