Alisa P, Jakarta – On July 4 the Aceh People’s Association (Ikatan Rakyat Aceh, IKARA) will hold a mass action in support of peace negotiations being held in Helsinki between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement. The planned action will follow a route from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, the offices of the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Security and Legal Affairs, the Presidential Palace and end at the People’s Representative Assembly (DPR).

According to IKARA activist Syurkani, the action is expected to be joined by thousands of Acehnese who live in Jakarta as well as those who love peace and reject war as a solution to the Aceh conflict. The aim of the action is to support the peace negotiations in Helsinki. “This action is to support the negotiations so that they continue to take palace and result in an agreement”, said Syurkani.

IKARA believes it is necessary to offer this support after seeing the crazy response to the negotiations, which has been taken up by legislative members. “Because there are still crazy views coming from a number of DPR members and nationalist circles to the point [there are those] who believe the internationalisation Aceh threatens the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia”, he continued. (*)

[Translated by James Balowski.]