Cameraman Fery appeals for release from hostage

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Journalist Fery Santoro, who has been held hostage by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for six months, has appealed to all parties to continue to help him and other civilian hostages return to their families.

Speaking by phone from an undisclosed location in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Fery said, "I appeal to my fellow journalists to help us so we can go home safely. I appeal to the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Red Cross and (GAM) to help me too," Fery told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Since the death of Sory Ersa Siregar, his colleague from the RCTI private television station, on Dec. 29, Fery's family has been living in fear that he will also return in a coffin. Ersa and Fery were taken hostage on June 29 with two military officers' wives who were traveling with them, and joined some 100 other civilian hostages.

"I talked to my wife just now and I was glad to hear that my son is OK, but I could not reply when he asked me when I will be home," he said, referring to five-year-old Ferdy.

Earlier, his wife Mayawati had said, "It's very hard for me when our son asks, 'Is Papa still alive or already dead?'"

The International Committee of the Red Cross has said that hopefully Fery would be released in a few weeks. It is working with the Indonesian Red Cross and coordinating with both disputing sides for the release of the hostages.

The driver of Ersa and Fery, Rachmatsyah, managed to escape during a shoot-out between the TNI and GAM on Dec. 17.

On Dec. 29, Fery said that he was resting with Ersa with around seven GAM members in a small hut. Five members then left the hut. One of the GAM fighters was cooking when suddenly military personnel opened fire on them. "I was shocked. I jumped. Bang Ersa jumped too and we retreated."

Fery said he could hear the shooting from some 10 meters away.

"I ran, but I stopped for a while, I remembered Bang Ersa, but because of the continuous shooting I panicked."

He said Ersa tried to reveal his identity during the heavy shooting. Fery doubted that GAM fired back. "They had their weapons put away quite a distance from where we were resting," he said. The TNI said Ersa was killed in a crossfire.

Fery said he did not know why Ersa had failed to escape harm and denied reports that Ersa had wounds to both legs. The military cited autopsy reports saying that Ersa sustained gunshots to the neck and chest.

Ersa only suffered from rheumatism, Fery said. "We often had to move and walk through muddy areas and remain submerged for a long time in water."

Fery said that during custody they could not conduct any journalistic work as their equipment was damaged. However, GAM treated them well, he said.

"Please continue your fight for me ... I am alone now. How are my friends at RCTI? I miss them too," Fery said.

The drama of the taking of hostages followed by Ersa's death has drawn local and international condemnation against the failure of both GAM and the TNI to guarantee the safety of noncombatants as stipulated in the Geneva convention on humanitarian law.