On 25 December 2025, civilians delivering humanitarian aid to flood victims in Acheh Tamiang were violently stopped. A convoy carrying food and essential supplies was forcibly halted on the Krueng Mane Bridge in Bireuen, where volunteers were assaulted despite operating solely as a humanitarian mission.

Witnesses report that several volunteers were struck on the head with rifle butts, and others were violently arrested during nighttime operations. Multiple witnesses described civilians with visible head injuries and signs of bleeding. The incident is corroborated by direct testimony, same-day Indonesian media reporting, and video footage recorded immediately after the assault, showing an injured civilian on the bridge, visibly wounded and disoriented.

Earlier that day, some participants engaged in peaceful political expression. All such activity had ceased by evening. At the time of the assault, the convoy was proceeding strictly as a humanitarian effort.

This violence occurred after the Indonesian central government declined to declare a national disaster following the floods of 26 November 2025, restricted international humanitarian assistance, and instead increased the deployment of armed forces to Acheh. In the absence of adequate state coordination, communities beyond Acheh have mobilized in solidarity to support flood victims, filling urgent gaps left by the official response.

Humanitarian assistance must never be met with violence. Civilians responding to disasters deserve protection—not intimidation, assault, or arrest.

What We Ask the International Community to Do
We call on the United Nations, international human rights organizations, and diplomatic partners to act without delay:

1. Publicly condemn the use of force against civilians engaged in humanitarian assistance.
2. Initiate urgent monitoring and fact-finding, including through UN Special Procedures and independent human rights mechanisms.
3. Press for the immediate release of any civilians detained in connection with the convoy, unless promptly charged with recognizable criminal offences supported by credible, lawfully obtained evidence, presented transparently, and subject to independent judicial review with full due-process guarantees.
4. Demand assurances that humanitarian convoys and volunteers will not be obstructed, intimidated, or subjected to military force.
5. Advocate for unhindered humanitarian access, including international assistance, to all flood-affected areas in Acheh.

Sign and share this petition. International pressure can prevent further harm and ensure life-saving aid reaches those in need.

Additional documentation, including video evidence, is available upon request through secure channels.