Hostages' release moved to Saturday
Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta
As the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has delayed the release of hundreds of civilian captives, including RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro, Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu assured the public on Thursday that his troops in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, would not hold an offensive operation ahead of their release.
The four-star general even went as far as saying that his troops were willing to declare a cease-fire for two to three days to guarantee the safety of both the civilian captives and Acehnese rebels escorting them out of their hideouts.
In the field, however, GAM rebels accused the military of deploying more troops and surrounding a plantation belonging to PT Bumi Flora in Pidie Rayeuk district, East Aceh, an area where the rebels had planned to free the captives.
"Up until now it is confirmed that the release of these civilians will be on Saturday. GAM has demanded a one-day cease- fire, and I guarantee that there will be no military offensive even a day before the release," Ryamizard told reporters after attending a seminar on the spirit of nationalism here on Thursday.
"If GAM asks for another two or three more days of cease-fire, we'll comply," Ryamizard said.
GAM rebels, who have been fighting for independence for the resource-rich province since 1976, are currently holding hostage close to two hundred civilians since the government launched in May 2003 an integrated operation aimed at quelling the secessionist movement in Aceh.
The guerrillas initially planned to release the captives, including Fery, on Thursday, but delayed the release for several days due to "technical reasons".
Asked whether the TNI would hold a dialog with GAM if there was a deadlock, Ryamizard said: "Dialog is acceptable, but the release of the civilians is more important."
Meanwhile, Ishak Daud, the GAM commander overseeing the Peurelak area in Eastern Aceh, claimed that the military had failed to reduce their operations in the area and had sent hundreds more soldiers to East Aceh, making it impossible for Ishak to meet the Saturday deadline.
"I initially planned to release around 250 civilian captives, including Fery, today (Thursday). But, looking at the current situation in the field where TNI has deployed around six military trucks filled with soldiers, I don't think we can release the hostages within the next few days," Ishak told The Jakarta Post by phone. "I demand that soldiers deployed at seven subdistricts near the plantation cease fire".
Ishak said that he intercepted the military's walkie-talkie, and learned that the soldiers were even planning to target him.
"I probably will arrange a meeting between the hostages and officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at our camps a day prior to their release. The press are free to cover the event, while I expect the military to stay away during the process," Ishak said.
Fery, along with senior RCTI reporter Sori Ersa Siregar, their driver and two wives of Air Force officers, Cut Soraya and Cut Farida who were acting as translators, were abducted by GAM on June 29 last year on their way to a refugee camp in Langsa.
The driver, Rahmatsyah, escaped in December, or weeks before Ersa was killed in what the military claimed to be a clash between TNI troops and the guerrillas. The two women were freed in February.
From the very beginning, GAM and the military have been involved in a rigorous debate over the release of the captives, with GAM earlier demanding a three-day cease-fire. Their demand was rejected by military top brass.