GAM warns against rescue operation<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Lhokseumawe<\/p>\n
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) warned the military on Wednesday
\nagainst using force to free five people -- including two
\njournalists -- being held hostage by the rebels, saying any
\nrescue operation would put the lives of the hostages at risk.<\/p>\n
And in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, military operation spokesman Lt.
\nCol. Achmad Yani Basuki said on Wednesday the separatist movement
\nwas holding another 39 hostages, including local village and
\ndistrict heads.<\/p>\n
The GAM spokesman for the East Aceh regency, Tengku Mansur,
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Wednesday the release of the five
\nhostages had been postponed indefinitely because "we learned the
\nmilitary has embarked on an offensive to rescue them".<\/p>\n
"We had initially decided to release the captives, but had to
\npostpone it due to a rescue operation being carried out by the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
"One thing that they (the military) must understand is that we
\ncannot guarantee the safety of these people should they continue
\nthe military offensive to free the hostages," Mansur said.<\/p>\n
The military deadline for GAM to release the hostages lapsed
\non Tuesday at 6 p.m., without RCTI journalist Ersa Siregar and
\ncameraman Ferry Santoro, driver Rachmansyah and two female
\ncompanions being released by the rebels.<\/p>\n
Mansur said the hostages had been moved to "another, safer
\nplace in Pidie regency".<\/p>\n
Yani said the TNI had found the location where the hostages
\nwere being held, and that soldiers were just waiting for the
\nright time to launch a rescue operation.<\/p>\n
"We are waiting for the right moment, so that when we launch
\nthe attack there will be no civilian victims," Yani said.<\/p>\n
A local GAM commander in East Aceh, Ishak Daud, confirmed on
\nWednesday that GAM was holding numerous other people beside Ersa
\nand his four companions.<\/p>\n
He said GAM fighters under his command were detaining 38
\npeople in all, not 44 as suggested by the military.<\/p>\n
"They are the three from RCTI, two wives of TNI officers, 32
\nvillage heads and one district chief," Ishak said via telephone.<\/p>\n
Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, speaking in Jakarta, said
\nthe TNI was still responsible for the safety of the five
\ncivilians.<\/p>\n
"But Ersa should take the initiative to contact the security
\nauthorities in Aceh, to let the soldiers know of their
\nwhereabouts and to enable them to launch a rescue operation," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He promised the troops would do everything within their power
\nto avoid civilian casualties in any rescue operation.<\/p>\n
RCTI journalist Ersa, cameraman Fery Santoro and their three
\nAcehnese companions have been in the hands of the rebels since
\nthey went missing on June 29.<\/p>\n
Separately, Adj. Sr. Com. Eko Daniyanto, chief of the North
\nAceh Police, said journalists who met with Ersa last Sunday had
\nbeen questioned about what they know of GAM's whereabouts.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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