GAM releases more civilian hostages
Nani Farida and Tiarma Siboro, Langsa/Jakarta
Some 150 more civilian hostages were released by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) late Monday afternoon, hours before the midnight deadline set by the Indonesian Military (TNI) lapsed.
The Jakarta Post's Nani Farida reported from Langsa Monday evening that the hostages were let go by GAM at around 4.30 p.m in the Lhok Jok area of Peudawa Reyeuk district, East Aceh.
The rebels, led by GAM Peurelak commander Ishak Daud, melted away into the forest soon after they held a farewell party attended by members of the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) and five journalists who voluntarily spent two nights with the rebels to witness the release of the hostages.
The hostages were then taken by ICRC volunteers to the Cut Mutiah hospital in Langsa, some 470 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, for medical checks. They arrived in Langka at around 6.45 p.m.
The five reporters who spent two nights with the GAM rebels were identified as Imam Wahyudi and Munir of private television station RCTI, Nani Farida of the Post, Husni Arifin of the Republika daily, and Nezar Patria of Tempo weekly magazine.
The newly released hostages arrived at Langsa with RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro and the five journalists, who had spent the two nights at a GAM hideout in East Aceh.
Fery, who was held hostage by GAM for almost one year, was actually released by GAM on Sunday but was forced to return to his captors as Ishak Daud, a GAM commander overseeing Peureulak in eastern Aceh, threatened to hold hostage the five journalists if Fery did not return to attend the farewell ceremony.
"I won't release the journalists unless Fery is here to witness Monday's event," Ishak was quoted as saying.
According to Nezar, also the secretary-general of the Independence Journalists Alliance (AJI), Ishak had initially refused to release Fery.
An official from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Gotzon, however, insisted on taking Fery with him as he was suffering from exhaustion after being in the jungle for almost 11 months.
Fery, along with senior RCTI reporter Sori Ersa Siregar, two Acehnese women and a local driver were captured by the guerrillas on June 29 last year. Unlike the three Acehnese who finally walked free, Ersa was killed in what the military claimed was a gun battle with the rebels in December last year.
"As Fery's colleagues, we told Ishak to let him go, while we would remain in the camp as guarantors. Ishak agreed, but insisted on asking the ICRC team to bring Fery back to the area the next day," Nezar told The Jakarta Post.
As Ishak Daud decided to release the civilian captives, including Fery, last Thursday, the TNI agreed to a one-day cease- fire. GAM then postponed the releases for a few days for what they claimed were technical reasons.
As the deadline for the end of the military cease-fire drew near, GAM finally released the 22 hostages on Saturday, but kept Fery in their camp.
It was Sunday before Fery was finally released.
The military authorities decided to keep him in the town, ignoring GAM's subsequent condition that he return to the GAM camp before the dozens of civilian captives and the journalists would be released.
"Ishak was disappointed upon hearing that the government's negotiating team refused to fulfill their promise and it was dawn on Monday when Ishak decided to split us up into smaller groups. The tension increased after he learned that the military were about to launch an offensive," Nezar said.
The new detainees were then told to walk into the hills, while Ishak and the ICRC negotiated a new deal, Nezar said. "We almost gave up when the military authorities in Langsa refused to let Fery travel back to the area. We are glad that they finally bowed to GAM's demand," Nezar said.
All of the journalists, including Fery, plan to return to Jakarta on Tuesday.
Chronology of Fery's release
May 15 A team of negotiators, including those from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Aceh-based Ranup Lampuan foundation, Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) and five other journalists, visit Fery in the mountainous Lhokjok area.
May 16 The negotiating team meet with Fery, while GAM asks the Aceh martial law administration to extend its one-day cease-fire, saying it requires more time to gather together the hostages. A new deal between GAM and the ICRC is struck, with GAM insisting on Fery returning from Langsa immediately. The team of journalists agree to stay at the rebel camp, waiting for the ICRC to bring Fery back.
Dawn on May 17 The Aceh Martial Law administration refuses to allow Fery to go back to the rebel camp, a decision that angers the GAM commander in Peureulak, Ishak Daud, who then resolves to detain the journalists.
May 17 The Aceh Martial Law administration and the ICRC finally agree to bring Fery back to the GAM camp. The guerrillas release the journalists afterwards.