Govt seeks release of kidnapped doctor

Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi hinted on Sunday that the government, with the help of a mediation body, was still negotiating with the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) over the abduction of the director of state-run Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Mental Hospital and his son.

"I have yet to receive the latest report, but we're trying our best to release them. The security apparatus is also giving their assistance," he told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the conversion of the state-run Bogor Mental Hospital to the Marzoeki Mahdi General Hospital.

According to Indonesian Psychiatrists Association chairman G. Pandu Setiawan, the minister had contacted National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after receiving the information about the abduction two weeks ago.

M. Idris Ibrahim Mars was taken on July 14 at 7:30 p.m. by armed civilians from his house in the Lampriet area in the provincial capital Banda Aceh. When abducted, Idris was accompanied by his son who insisted on accompanying his father to meet the seven fully-armed "guests" who asked Idris to leave the house.

"Until today we are not sure about what these men want because there are many procedures to meet before we can have access to GAM's top leader," Pandu, who is also director of Radjiman Wediodiningrat Hospital in Lawang, East Java, said.

However, he said that based on preliminary report, GAM had asked for Rp 400 million (US$44,444) to release Idris.

Pandu said the psychiatrists association had issued a joint statement with the Association of Indonesian Mental Hospitals, urging the abductors to release the doctor.

He was saddened by people who harmed doctors in the conflict situation.

"All doctors are recognized internationally as a protected profession in conflict situations. Besides, it involves a huge amount of money and we are afraid that if we pay the ransom, this case will become a precedent for other abduction cases," Pandu said. --JP