PRESS RELEASE
Okt. 19. 2003

Released by TNA Military Spokesman, Soyan Dawood (19 October 2003)

The Prime Minister of the State of Acheh, Mr Malik Mahmud, has issued an official request that safe corridors and safe zones be set up in Acheh to allow for the distribution of humanitarian relief to the civilian population.

The request was made at a meeting in Brussels organised by the Committee on Development and Cooperation Human Rights Working Group at the European Parliament on 1 October. The Acheh National Armed Forces (TNA) Commander-in-Chief Muzakkir Manaf endorses that request.

The TNA condemn the actions of the Indonesian security forces that have caused such suffering, and is saddened by the destruction of life and property caused by the ongoing war. In Acheh, the civilians have already suffered too much: there are too many women, children and elderly with no home, no food, no schools, no health care and no permanent shelter. They are all waiting for help to arrive - but none does.

The TNA pledges not only to respect such safe areas, but to assist in facilitating such an initiative. We request that international humanitarian agencies be allowed to enter Acheh, to pass without threat or hindrance along highways and roads that will allow the distribution of medical aid, food and other necessities to civilians.

The TNA calls on the Indonesian Government to show the same level of compassion: to allow Mr Malik's initiative to be implemented and to commit its security forces to facilitation and cooperation, rather than to violence which can only lead to further civilian suffering.

To the international community, the TNA respectfully requests your assistance in promoting this idea to government in Jakarta.

Central Military Command, For and on behalf of the TNA Commander-in-chief

The Military Spokesman,
Tengku Sofyan Dawood

signed:
 Tgk. Sofyan Dawood