GAM releases more civilian hostages

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.