Cease-fire no threat to RI sovereignty: Observers<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government and the Indonesia Military (TNI) have been told to
\nsupport a cease-fire with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in a bid
\nto release RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro and other civilian
\nhostages in restive Aceh, saying it would do no harm to the
\ncountry's sovereignty.<\/p>\n
Arlina, a humanitarian law expert of the Trisakti University,
\nsaid all international legislations on war recognized a
\ncease-fire as a means to evacuate victims from a war zone.<\/p>\n
\"The international legislations guarantee that a cease-fire
\nwill not change the status quo, meaning those considered to be
\nrebels will remain to be seen as rebels while the legitimate
\ngovernment still represents the country,\" she said during a
\ndiscussion over the weekend.<\/p>\n
According to Arlina, the government must respect humanitarian
\nlaw in a bid to release Fery and at least 277 civilians held
\nhostage by the Aceh rebels.<\/p>\n
\"It is the government which is supposed to take the initiative
\nbecause Indonesia has adopted the 1949 Geneva Convention. It
\nmeans the government represents Indonesia as part of the
\ninternational community in negotiation with the rebels,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto have both dismissed the cease-fire demanded
\nby GAM. In his latest statement, Susilo said the government would
\nbe set for a military operation to release the hostages if
\nnegotiation with the rebels failed.<\/p>\n
The government has involved the International Committee of the
\nRed Cross (ICRC) in its bid to release the hostages.<\/p>\n
\"No need to worry over possible foreign involvement in Aceh.
\nICRC has been known for its neutral reputation in all wars across
\nthe world,\" Arlina said.<\/p>\n
Rachland Nashidik of the Imparsial rights watchdog agreed with
\nArlina, saying a cease-fire had nothing to do with the country's
\nsovereignty.<\/p>\n
\"The government or TNI must set aside any thoughts that a
\ncease-fire is a humiliation to the country's dignity, or a threat
\nto the country's sovereignty. A cease-fire is about humanity in
\nthe event of a war,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Edi Suprapto, the chairman of the Alliance of the
\nIndependent Journalists (AJI), appealed to both the TNI and GAM,
\nsaying \"The most important thing is how to save the hostages.\"<\/p>\n
Following the tragic death of RCTI journalist Sory Ersa
\nSiregar on Dec. 29, 2003, the government set up a team in its
\nefforts to release Fery and other civilian hostages.<\/p>\n
Responding to GAM's demand for a cease-fire, Endriartono
\nquestioned the rebels who did not ask for such a condition for
\nthe release of U.S. journalist William Nessen last year.<\/p>\n
Fery and Ersa, along with three other civilians -- their
\ndriver Rachmatsyah and two women -- were held hostage after they
\nwere intercepted by the separatist rebels on May 29.<\/p>\n
Rachmatsyah managed to escape during a shoot-out between the
\nmilitary and GAM on Dec. 12. But Ersa was killed during a raid by
\nTNI soldiers on a group of rebels in remote Aleu Matang Arun
\nvillage, Simpang Ulim subdistrict, East Aceh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cease-fire-no-threat-to-ri-sovereignty-observers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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