Criticism over GAM hostages worries Megawati<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri regretted on Thursday criticism
\nagainst the government over its handling of civilian hostages
\nheld by the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
In a meeting with the executive board of the government-backed
\nIndonesian Journalists Association (PWI), Megawati said it was
\nunfair to say that the government had done little to secure the
\nrelease of civilian hostages.<\/p>\n
\"In Ersa's case, the President is really concerned about
\ncriticisms against the government,\" PWI chairman Tarman Azzam
\nsaid after meeting Megawati.<\/p>\n
The government has come under fire following the killing of
\nRCTI journalist Ersa Siregar, who was found shot dead in East
\nAceh on Dec. 29 after a gunfight between the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) and GAM separatists. The TNI confirmed that shots fired by
\ngovernment troops had killed Ersa.<\/p>\n
\"The President said reporters in conflict areas must bear in
\nmind that there are certain conditions to entering dangerous
\nzones, such as reporting to security authorities,\" Tarman said.<\/p>\n
Ersa and fellow RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro, together with the
\nwives of two military officers -- one of whom is pregnant -- were
\ntaken hostage by GAM members in late June.<\/p>\n
The fate of Fery and the women remain unknown.<\/p>\n
Several organizations have accused the government of failing
\nto ensure the safety of its citizens and pointed out that
\nnegotiations to free Fery intensified only after Ersa was killed.<\/p>\n
The TNI and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), with the
\nassistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross
\n(ICRC), are trying to secure Fery's release from GAM.<\/p>\n
The separatist group is believed to be holding dozens of civil
\nservants hostage across the troubled province.<\/p>\n
According to Tarman, the President said that stray bullets
\nwere among the consequences that journalists had to face in
\ncovering news in conflict areas.<\/p>\n
\"Security officers cannot stop the bullets from killing
\njournalists ... this should be understood,\" he said, quoting
\nMegawati.<\/p>\n
GAM separatists have been fighting for independence for the
\nresource-rich province since 1976. Over 10,000 people, mostly
\ninnocent civilians, have been killed in the conflict.<\/p>\n
The government imposed martial law in the province on May 19,
\n2003 and launched the so-called joint operation aimed at crushing
\nGAM. According to the TNI, over 1,000 GAM members have been
\nkilled and over 2,000 others have been captured or have
\nsurrendered to government troops since then.<\/p>\n
At Thursday's meeting, the President also asked the media
\ncommunity to take part in promoting the country's first-ever
\ndirect presidential election on July 5.<\/p>\n
She said the media should also act as an educator by providing
\ninformation about the new electoral system to the public.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/criticism-over-gam-hostages-worries-megawati-1447893297",
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