HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 c1051W
Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Indonesia on(a) suppressing the rebels' uprising and (b) humanitarian assistance in Aceh. [138825]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The Government has regularly urged the Indonesian Government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to return to negotiations for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Aceh.

Together with other members of the Tokyo Group (the EU, US, Japan and World Bank) we have recently called for improved access to Aceh for international agencies and NGOs, and for the impact on the people of Aceh to be minimised. The UK continues to work through NGOs and the UN to provide assistance to the people of Aceh. We continue to discuss Aceh with political contacts in Indonesia and the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK.