M.Ilaham, Jakarta – Thousands of Acehnese who are residing in Jakarta held a series of demonstrations at the offices of the coordinating minister of politics and security, the presidential palace and the national parliament on Tuesday May 11. The action, which was coordinated by the Association of Acehnese Families (Ikatan Keluarga Rakyat Aceh, IKARA), was tightly guarded by police but proceeded without incident.

The action which began at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout then moved off to the offices of the coordinating minister of politics and security and the presidential palace, blocked the flow of traffic for the length of the rally. All of the demonstrators wore head bands with writing calling for martial law to be revoked. They also carried banners and posters with read “Revoke martial law in Aceh” and “We, the people of Aceh reject plans to extend martial law”.

Syurkani, the field coordinator of the action, said that the action represented a response by the Acehnese people against the government’s plan to extend martial law in Aceh which will end on May 19. In a statement handed out to journalists they demanded that martial law be revoked and rejected the plan to reduce its status to a state of civil emergency.

A number of pro-democracy activists gave speeches including Tgk. Suhaimi, Taufik Abda, Cut farah, Sayet fadil, Raihan, Dita Sari and Thamrin Ananda. In her speech in front of the offices of the coordinating minister for politics and security, Sari said that to date civilian politicians had not had the courage to take a stand against martial law in Aceh, instead they have given their blessings for martial law be implemented. What the Acehnese people desire is not bullets but peace, justice and an act of self-determination to decide their own future she said.

Ananda who gave a speech in front of the presidential palace said that the Acehnese people are still being mobilised by the TNI (armed forces) to call for an extension to martial law in Aceh but this does not represent the genuine interests of the Acehnese people but is because they have been forced to do it by the TNI. The genuine wishes of the Acehnese people is for martial law to be revoked and the TNI withdrawn from Aceh. Ananda said that if in Jakarta there is a small degree of freedom for people to express their views, what would be expressed in Aceh would be the same as is being expressed today. [This is not possible however] because in Aceh this freedom has been removed by the military said Ananda.

After the presidential palace the action was continued at the national parliament where it was joined by the majority of Acehnese people who are living in Jakarta. The action ended at 4.30pm.

[Translated by James Balowski.]