Human rights abuser

For Indonesia, Martti Ahtisaari’s Nobel Peace Prize is also a reminder of a shameful past, says an editorial in the Jakarta Post.

“THE 71 year old former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo today for his tireless efforts to end conflicts in many parts of the world, including in our once restive province of Aceh. While the world commemorates the International Human Rights Day on 10 December, it is tempting to raise a question about the background of Ahtisaari’s prize-winning story.”

“We do appreciate the former Finnish president for his success in mediating peace talks between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to end the war which had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives during the nearly three decades of war. … However, without the tsunami disaster that hit the province on 26 December 2004, which severely weakened the two warring parties, perhaps the road to peace in Aceh would have been much more difficult to travel.

Ahtisaari’s Nobel win is actually an embarrassment for Indonesia, because the peace accord in Aceh is indeed his greatest peace achievement. If the military had not committed gross human rights violations and the central government had not robbed the Acehnese of their rights – including their rich natural resources – perhaps Ahtisaari’s chances of winning would have been smaller.”

“We wish to congratulate the former Finnish president for winning the prestigious prize. However, we do hope that there will be no more future Nobel Peace Prize winners because of his/her achievements in ending human rights abuses in this country.”

JAKARTA POST 10 December

http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4657:human-rights-abuser&catid=15:finland-in-the-world-press&Itemid=161