Friday 19th of August, 2005

Today at 11:00am members of the Acheh Support Group and others will be outside the Indonesian Embassy to deliver a joint statement about the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Acheh Movement (GAM).

The joint statement issued today has been signed by members on behalf of the following groups: Acheh Support Group, Indonesian Human Rights Committee, Amnesty International New Zealand, Green Party, Global Peace and Justice Auckland, Young Greens of Aotearoa, and Peace Action Wellington.

Statement to the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand

His Excellency Mr Primo Alui Joelianto, Ambassador, Indonesian Embassy, PO Box 3543, Wellington.

19 August 2005

We are jointly writing to you to express our relief and joy that the Government of Indonesia and the Free Acheh Movement (GAM) have both signed the peace agreement.

However, we are deeply disturbed that human rights violations have continued against civilians in Acheh throughout the peace process and we hope justice will prevail in the near future. It is our sincere belief that respect for human rights is central to lasting peace with justice in Acheh.

We are still hopeful that both parties genuinely want this peace agreement to work and will actively support the 'Aceh Monitoring Mission' and the right for Achehnese to determine their own future.

In addition, we as members of civil society remain committed to monitoring the events as they unfold within Acheh.

Yours sincerely,

John Anderson (on behalf of Acheh Support Group) Maire Leadbeater (on behalf of Indonesian Human Rights Committee) Ced Simpson (on behalf of Amnesty International NZ) Keith Locke (Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, on behalf of the Green Party) Mike Treen (Global Peace and Justice Auckland) Nicola Harvey (Young Greens of Aotearoa) and Peace Action Wellington

ENDS

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