Drop-off points set for GAM hostages

Nani Farida and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, East Aceh/Medan

The martial law administrator in Aceh offered on Saturday drop- off points in five districts in East Aceh that could be used by members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to release hostages, including RCTI television cameraman Fery Santoro.

Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya also promised that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would vacate the drop-off points once an agreement was inked between the two parties on the releasing the hostages.

"We have prepared the place and time, which will make it easy for GAM members to release their hostages," the two-star general told reporters in Langsa area, East Aceh.

The exact number of hostages being held by GAM is unclear, with the separatist group claiming to have 84 but the government putting the figure at 277.

Demands for their release have increased since the death of RCTI private television reporter Sory Ersa Siregar, who was shot dead by the TNI in crossfire between GAM and TNI troops in East Aceh on Dec. 29 after being held with Fery since last June.

Meanwhile, Endang also said GAM would be allowed to propose drop-off points that were convenient to them, although their acceptance was subject to discussion.

Asked by reporters about the heightened security measures imposed by the TNI in recent days in East Aceh, Endang said that it was a routine procedure. Routine operations, such as checking ID cards of passersby, will continue throughout Aceh, until there is an agreement on the release of hostages between GAM and TNI.

According to information received from the martial law administrator, some 50 people are being held hostage by GAM in East Aceh.

Meanwhile, the head of the Indonesian team working for the release of the hostages, Lt. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, revealed that he and his team members had gone back to Banda Aceh from East Aceh. He also said that a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Boris Mitchel, had returned to Jakarta.

The news raised concern that efforts to release the hostages may have failed, which Sudi denied.

"The members of the Indonesian Red Cross are still in East Aceh. We, the ICRC and the PMI, are coordinating closely to make the release of the hostages a success."

Separately, the Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government would not rule out a special military operation to release the hostages, including Fery, if the ongoing negotiation effort failed.

"GAM has to release the hostages without imposing any conditions, just like they freed U.S. journalist William Nessen. Taking hostages is an act of terror, and it is against the Geneva convention," he said.

Susilo said 322 people had been taken hostage by GAM, and the TNI had been able to free about 60. He estimated the current number of hostages was 277, including Fery and two wives of TNI personnel abducted by GAM last year along with Ersa.