Britain Urges Probe Into Aceh Village Killings
LONDON, July 28 (Kyodo) -- Britain's minister for Asia urged the Indonesian government Wednesday to investigate claims that 31 people killed by the army in Aceh Province late last week were civilians.
Geoff Hoon, minister of state at the Foreign Office, issued a statement in London saying he was "shocked to learn of the incident in West Aceh."
Reports on Monday alleged that the 31 people killed last Friday or Saturday were not members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement, as claimed by theIndonesian military, but were a spiritual leader and 30 of his followers.
One villager claimed the victims were forced to leave their building --said by the military to be a rebel base -- and were shot as they did so.
"I look to the Indonesian government to conduct an urgent investigation of what has taken place. If it proves that unarmed civilians have been unlawfully killed, those responsible must be brought to justice." Hoon saidin his statement.
"The situation in Aceh appears to have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint," the minister said.
The United Nations has rescheduled the postponed referendum on the status of another Indonesian province, East Timor, for Aug. 30 amid an increase in violence and tension across Indonesia.
