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Deported activists say calls for peace in Aceh prompted Indonesian police retaliation
ASAP Statement - May 23, 2003
Nick Everett, from Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) and co-convenor of the Sydney Walk Against War Coalition and Kylie Moon, coordinator of Books Not Bombs, a youth coalition against the war, say that calls for an end to martial law in Aceh prompted Indonesian police to retaliate.
Everett and Moon, along with two other foreign attendees of the Global Peace Movements Conference, were arrested at a rally organised as part of the conference.
At a rally, marking the end of the conference, many foreign and Indonesian delegates called for an end to global militarism and the war in Aceh. Some speakers also urged the Indonesian government end martial law and withdraw Indonesian troops from Aceh.
Conference organisers say police reacted violently when activists talked about the declaration of martial law in Aceh and called the Megawati government to withdraw the troops.
Mr Everett and Ms Moon were released from the central Jakarta police station late on Thursday, May 22, and have been deported.
They are due to arrive in Sydney, today, at 6.50pm on Singapore Airlines.
They are currently in Singapore and available to speak to the media until 11.15am EST.
Nick
Everett: 0409 762 081
Kylie
Moon: 0411 104 813
A global protest has been called for an end to the war on Aceh today, Friday May 23. The Sydney protest will take place at 4pm at Sydney Town Hall steps.
Free Aceh demonstrations – Friday 23 May
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