ABC AUSTRALIA, 09/04/2003 17:26:37
Manila condemns attacks on Aceh peace monitors
The Philippine government has condemned attacks on international peace monitors in
the Indonesian province of Aceh.
Manila says Jakarta should take measures to prevent an escalation of violence.
It says it "deplores the attacks by unidentified persons on the offices used by the
Tripartite Monitoring Team in Aceh".
But it says none of the eight Filipino peace monitors in the area were hurt.
The Philippines Foreign Secretary Blas Ople says Manila's ambassador to Jakarta
has been assured that all efforts will be taken to ensure the safety of the peace
monitors.
On Sunday, a mob ransacked the peace monitors' offices in the town of Langsa, in
east Aceh, destroying equipment before torching the building.
The following day, hundreds of people demanded the removal of peace monitors from
south Aceh.
09/04/2003 17:26:37 | ABC Radio Australia News
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