SBY tells journalists to learn<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met on Thursday two Indonesian
\njournalists who had been released from captivity in Iraq at the
\ngazebo in front of his office here.<\/p>\n
Despite his relief upon their release, the President called on
\njournalists to treat the abduction as a lesson and asked those
\ncovering conflicts both in Indonesia and overseas to listen to
\nthe government's advice.<\/p>\n
\"There are many lessons we can learn from this case. It is the
\nduty of the journalists whose work brings them to conflict areas
\nboth in Indonesia and abroad. Never lose the spirit to carry on
\nyour duty.<\/p>\n
\"(But) in certain conflict-prone areas such as Aceh and Iraq,
\njournalists must understand the risks and always be careful,
\nalert and stay in touch with the government. It's not because the
\ngovernment likes to nag. If they end up in trouble, the
\ngovernment will have to take responsibility,\" Susilo said in his
\nspeech at a reception for Metro TV journalists Meutya Hafid and
\nBudiyanto.<\/p>\n
Susilo added that the release of the two journalists
\nwas the result of the hard work of many parties from Indonesia
\nand the international community.<\/p>\n
He expressed the hope that similar cooperation could also work
\nin Aceh, where reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the
\naftermath of the tsunami disaster last December are underway.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, solidarity within our nation will be able to boost
\nthe reconstruction program in Aceh,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President looked relaxed when he asked the journalists to
\ntell him their stories.<\/p>\n
Reporter Meutya and cameraman Budiyanto were taken directly to
\nthe State Palace upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International
\nAirport after a flight from Amman. Metro TV owner and media
\nmagnate Surya Paloh and the journalists' families joined them in
\nthe reception at the palace.<\/p>\n
Also present were Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda,
\nforeign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa, presidential
\nspokespersons Andi Mallarangeng and Dino Patti Djalal, Crisis
\nSettlement Unit head Triyono Wibowo and several members of the
\ngovernment's team who worked for the release of the journalists.<\/p>\n
Meutya and Budiyanto were abducted by an armed group in Iraq
\nnear Ramadi, a guerrilla stronghold west of Baghdad on Feb. 15
\nand were taken to a secret hideout.<\/p>\n
Susilo had made a televised appeal to the kidnappers for the
\nrelease of the two journalists, saying they were working in a
\nfellow Muslim country in a professional capacity. The two were
\nreleased on Monday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sby-tells-journalists-to-learn-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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