"Free Aceh" banner sensitive? Confiscated by police

UPDATE: Last Monday night, around 80 Malaysian students gathered in front the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. They held the "Free Aceh Today, Save Live Now" vigil night to mourn the vitcims of the Tsunami and also condemned the military operation in Aceh.

However, the vigil night was harrassed by the police forces. In the beginning, the student was not allowed to hold the assembly due to no permission from the police. After the negotiation between the student and the police, the police found that the assembly was to deliver the donation to the Malaysia Medical Relief Society (Mercy). The police agreed to let the vigil night proceeded.

Even the students were allowed to hold the vigil night, but the police confiscated the banner that made by the students. They police said the banner is sensitive. Without any doubt, the police did what they like and what they think.

According to the representative from the Oversea Indonesian Students Association in Malaysia, Bambang, "the contribution of the Malaysian students need to praise, however "Free Aceh Today" sound like promote the Aceh independent movement. It distorted the relief operation!"

The spokeperson of the Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM), Ramadhan clarify that they against the military operation that restricted the relief operation. Many of the relief goods could not reach the disaster areas.

What do you think about this incident? "Free Aceh now!" means support independent? Why the Malaysian students can't raise up the issue of the military operation in Aceh when they ran the donation to Aceh? Isn't it important for the Malaysian student to emphasis on the human rights violation committed by human than the Tsunami?

Please feel free to speak up your idea. We in the ASA welcome your comments and ideas.