Acheh-Sumatra National Liberation Front
ASNLF
Press Release
10 December 2012
UN Human Rights Day
On December 10th, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. It proclaims a simple, powerful idea: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
A few days ago, on December 4th, 2012, the people of Acheh celebrated peacefully the 36th anniversary of its independence day, by raising their "crescent and star" flag both in Acheh and abroad. Unfortunately, in Acheh they have to risk their life and limb during and after the anniversary. The Indonesian armed forces and police including militias lowered down and seized all the flags, whereas the flag raisers were being persecuted.
Universal human rights certainly include the right to freedom of expression and the freedom of belief, including the right to self-determination. We strongly denounce the actions done by the Indonesian security forces with regards to the flag-raising, as it is the rights of Achehnese to freely express their own beliefs.
Acheh-Sumatra National Liberation Front urges all parties to respect the people of Acheh and let them exercise their rights in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Indonesia is well known for its flagrant violations of these rights and, therefore, it is indispensable for international community to put more pressure on it.
We sincerely wish all the peoples around the world a happy UN Human Rights Day and hopefully the people of Acheh can also exercise all their fundamental rights freely, without fear and intimidation.
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For more information, please contact:
Madinatul Fajar, ASNLF Head of Secretariat
Email: madinatul.fajar@gmail.com
