GAM warns against rescue operation
GAM warns against rescue operation
Tiarma Siboro and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Lhokseumawe
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) warned the military on Wednesday
against using force to free five people -- including two
journalists -- being held hostage by the rebels, saying any
rescue operation would put the lives of the hostages at risk.
And in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, military operation spokesman Lt.
Col. Achmad Yani Basuki said on Wednesday the separatist movement
was holding another 39 hostages, including local village and
district heads.
The GAM spokesman for the East Aceh regency, Tengku Mansur,
told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday the release of the five
hostages had been postponed indefinitely because "we learned the
military has embarked on an offensive to rescue them".
"We had initially decided to release the captives, but had to
postpone it due to a rescue operation being carried out by the
military.
"One thing that they (the military) must understand is that we
cannot guarantee the safety of these people should they continue
the military offensive to free the hostages," Mansur said.
The military deadline for GAM to release the hostages lapsed
on Tuesday at 6 p.m., without RCTI journalist Ersa Siregar and
cameraman Ferry Santoro, driver Rachmansyah and two female
companions being released by the rebels.
Mansur said the hostages had been moved to "another, safer
place in Pidie regency".
Yani said the TNI had found the location where the hostages
were being held, and that soldiers were just waiting for the
right time to launch a rescue operation.
"We are waiting for the right moment, so that when we launch
the attack there will be no civilian victims," Yani said.
A local GAM commander in East Aceh, Ishak Daud, confirmed on
Wednesday that GAM was holding numerous other people beside Ersa
and his four companions.
He said GAM fighters under his command were detaining 38
people in all, not 44 as suggested by the military.
"They are the three from RCTI, two wives of TNI officers, 32
village heads and one district chief," Ishak said via telephone.
Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, speaking in Jakarta, said
the TNI was still responsible for the safety of the five
civilians.
"But Ersa should take the initiative to contact the security
authorities in Aceh, to let the soldiers know of their
whereabouts and to enable them to launch a rescue operation," he
said.
He promised the troops would do everything within their power
to avoid civilian casualties in any rescue operation.
RCTI journalist Ersa, cameraman Fery Santoro and their three
Acehnese companions have been in the hands of the rebels since
they went missing on June 29.
Separately, Adj. Sr. Com. Eko Daniyanto, chief of the North
Aceh Police, said journalists who met with Ersa last Sunday had
been questioned about what they know of GAM's whereabouts.