THE STATE OF ACHEH ACHEH NATIONAL ARMED FORCES (TNA) MILITARY INFORMATION CENTER www.asnlf.net Atjèh Rajeuk Liberated Territory: Jan. 3, 2005 On behalf of people of Acheh, the TNA Commander in-Chief would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the peoples and governments of countries that have not only shared our griefs and losses but have come to help our suffering people in such a swift, massive and unprecedented generosity. We also take this opportunity to thank our traditionally compassionate NGO friends, humanitarian organisations and individuals from various nationalities including Indonesians who have braved all obstacles, natural as well as incomprehensible human deceits. This natural calamities that have befallen on our country have even moved some hardened Indonesian military and police personnels into performing most human actions, for which we could only reciprocate at this point in time with heartfelt gratitude. We forget not to mention the relentless works of the mass media people,both in Indonesia and abroad, in making the agonies of our people heard and seen all over the world. Thousands upon thousands of our brothers, sisters, parents and children have perished in the catastrophe. But for us Achehnese, this calamity is somewhat matched by the overwhelming sympathy of the world that restores our faith in the basic goodness of mankind. To those in neighbouring countries who are suffering also like us, and to the families of many unfortunate tourists who happened to be at the wrong place the wrong time on Dec. 26, 2004, we can only offer our most hearfelt condolences. Having mentioned the silver lining of the dark cloud engulfing out nation, we can't but be aware also of the sinister attitude of the Government of Indonesia, not only for having placed ridiculous obstacles in the distribution of the aid supplies, but has seen it fit to send replacement for tens of ``thousans of its soldiers who perished in the earthquake and the tsunami. This reinforcement is being carried out under the guise of the search and rescue operations for family members of the soldiers. Many independent NGO and press reports have confirmed our own field reports that the TNI are not helping the victims at all as claimed by Jakarta . Indeed the operational commander of the Indonesian military in Acheh himself has stated that military operations against our forces are to continue as usual, despite the declaration of ceasefire by General Endriartono. Indonesian soldiers in the field are harassing the victims, imposing such ridiculous conditions as producing identity cards for obtaining food, that did not come from Jakarta in the first place. Those who fail to present their i.d. papers are harassed, even beaten up. People in coastal areas have been forced also to dive and retrieve weapons swept away in the sea in fear that these guns would fall into our hands, while in fact, we have faithfully adhered to the instruction of our political leadership in Stockholm to maintain the unilateral ceasefire. Finally, we would like to call on the international community, especially to the United Nations, whose Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan has announced a visit to our devastated country this Thursday, to commence a political dialogue between the warring parties in Acheh, in order to take advantage of the current spirit of cooperation and find, if not a solution to the conflict, just a mechanism for a moratorium on hostilities so that the people of Acheh could concentrate on rebuilding their lives with the generous help from the international commununity unhindered by the shenanigans of some selfish colonial military commanders. TNA Commander in-Chief Muzakkir Manaf