ID :
11839
Tue, 07/08/2008 - 10:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11839
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PRESIDENT ASKS ACEHNESE IN M'SIA TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME TOWNS
Kuala Lumpur, July 8 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked around 24,000 Acehnese people in Malaysia to return to their home towns in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam after the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and Indonesian military reached a reconcilliatory agreement to reconstruction Aceh after being ravaged by the tsunami.
"I call on Acehnese communities to return to their home towns in Aceh. There is no reason for them not to return," the president said in a press conference here on Monday.
There were around 24,000 Acehnese in Malaysia. The government of that neighboring country sheltered them for the time being for humanitarian reasons and following the strong quake and ensuing tsunami.
Malaysia gave them a shelter by issuing tsunami cards since 2005 for a two year stay in that country. Their staying permit expired in 2007 and with their good approach, the government of Malaysia later extended their permit untill August 2008.
This neighboring country seemed reluctant to extend their stay permit except temporary stay while waiting for their repatriation in stages.
In the begining there were about 32,000 Acehnese migrants in Malaysia. But after the reconcilliation and reconstruction of Aceh, many of them returned to their home towns , so that only 24,000 were still staying in Malaya.
"The repatriation of thousands of Acehnese people need improved preparations. "I have asked the central government and Aceh administration to prepare their return by asking Indonesian ambassador in Kuala Lumpur to help the preparations for their return to Aceh," the head of state said.
"I call on Acehnese communities to return to their home towns in Aceh. There is no reason for them not to return," the president said in a press conference here on Monday.
There were around 24,000 Acehnese in Malaysia. The government of that neighboring country sheltered them for the time being for humanitarian reasons and following the strong quake and ensuing tsunami.
Malaysia gave them a shelter by issuing tsunami cards since 2005 for a two year stay in that country. Their staying permit expired in 2007 and with their good approach, the government of Malaysia later extended their permit untill August 2008.
This neighboring country seemed reluctant to extend their stay permit except temporary stay while waiting for their repatriation in stages.
In the begining there were about 32,000 Acehnese migrants in Malaysia. But after the reconcilliation and reconstruction of Aceh, many of them returned to their home towns , so that only 24,000 were still staying in Malaya.
"The repatriation of thousands of Acehnese people need improved preparations. "I have asked the central government and Aceh administration to prepare their return by asking Indonesian ambassador in Kuala Lumpur to help the preparations for their return to Aceh," the head of state said.
