COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Sixty-first Session, 14 March – 22 April 2005
Item 14; Internal Displaces Persons (IDPs)

Oral Statement Delivered by Norma Susanti Manalu.

Geneve, April 14th 2005

Mr. Chairman

Tsunami disaster occurred on 26 December last year have gotten widely attention worldwide. The international communities together with Indonesian society have worked together in humanitarian relief to help the victims. Various initiatives are taken to help the internal displacement persons, recorded about 695.000 throughout Aceh. Up until today, they are relocated in emergency camps and local residents. Most victims are womens and childrens.

However, the humanitarian relief taking place for more than three months has shown its inefficacy, fails to be sensitive in addressing the problem of women and children. In some of the camps, women with three children have to live together with other families in the camps as wide as 4 X 6 m2. Thus far, no particular health centre available to help women in giving birth, and addressing the problem of women health in general. In addition, there are no adequate basic utilities available, including proper “ bathroom”. Women in the camps have no access on good nutrition, particularly for those who are pregnant and have to breastfeeding their babies. The lack of good nutrition has caused serious breastfeeding problem for the women IDPs. Overall, the treatment of IDPs have failed to comply with the guiding principles on internal displacement. as provided by the article 18 (2) a,b,c d and (3).

In order to distribution aids military in Aceh did not allowed the humanitarian organizations to deliver the aids by them self, full control of military made very limited access to humanitarian activities. The reasons why the military do it because Aceh still under civil emergency status.

Apart from the problems of adequate settlements and poor health facilities, women also face securities problem. Thus far, there are no adequate protection, provided to prevent them from intimidation and terror. Women IDPs in Tanah Paser North Aceh were reported of being intimidated after the TNI officers took their children at the local district as were alleged of being involve in GAM. The mothers who came to the military district office the next day asking for clarification were forced not to report the incidents to other institution; otherwise, they would never see their children again.

Some IDPs experience the force-resettlement of the victims of Tsunami. The government has built many emergency camps, without considering their source of living. For example, some IDPs in Bate Pidie district who earn their live from making traditional mats from ‘pandan’ leaves have to move far from their livelihood. This has made them of losing their source of income for their economic survival. The government denies their demand to return to their former place, and force them to continue struggle for their live in the new emergency camps instead.

The excessive role of the TNI (Indonesian Army) in handling the IDPs and recovery of Aceh post Tsunami led to the limitation of civil society to enjoy their rights, in particular, with regard to their freedom of expression and association. This obviously has hindered them from giving significant contributions for the Aceh recovery in post tsunami.

Considering all of those mentioned above, we call for:

1. the government of Indonesia to open the access for civil societies from local, national, as well as International level to be able to take part in dealing with IDPs in Aceh
2. the government of Indonesia to revoke the Military emergency in Aceh in order to provide better condition for Aceh society in their recovery post tsunami
3. The government of Indonesia to protect and fulfill the rights of the IDPs
4. The government of Indonesia to involve the IDPs in every level policy making process in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Aceh post tsunami.
5. The international communities and international institutions to fully support the attempts to protect the Human rights in Aceh.