Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-20-Speech-4-162"
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"en.20031120.8.4-162"2
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"Mr President, this debate comes at a very timely moment in the history of Indonesia, given the very grave situation in the province of Aceh.
The decision by the Indonesian authorities to extend martial law and carry out a military crackdown is deeply regrettable, and there has been very heavy-handed military action. An estimated 45 000 troops have been sent into the province against 5000 rebels. As ever in these situations, it is the civilian population which is paying the price, with reports of disruption to food supplies, infrastructure and schools being destroyed. Tens of thousands of civilians are reportedly displaced.
These are only estimates, of course, because the Indonesian authorities are not allowing observers in to monitor the situation. This has to stop. There is no point in the Indonesian Government complaining when the international community, the United States, the EU and Japan, draft a resolution expressing their concern if they in turn are not prepared to allow international monitors in and are not prepared to allow humanitarian organisations into their country to bring assistance to the civilian population. Our joint resolution makes a series of demands on the Indonesian Government and I hope very much that it is listening and that it will heed those concerns.
It is vital to get both parties back to the negotiating table as quickly as possible. Time and time again we hear people telling us that military action is the answer, that it will be a quick military action and that once it is over everything will be sorted out. We have heard this so often, but often been disappointed. So often we have seen a high price paid in human lives. So both sides, the GAM and the Indonesian Government, must get back to the negotiating table, stop the fighting and resume the talking.
I am grateful to the Commission for what it is already doing as regards Indonesia, particularly Commissioner Patten, who has always taken up issues about Aceh when we have asked him to do so. I hope the Council and the Commission will now do everything possible to assist Indonesia in getting back to the negotiating table with GAM and get those talks started as soon as possible. This is a matter of some urgency and I am very grateful to colleagues in this Parliament for agreeing to have today's debate and for supporting this resolution."@en1
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