Hostages' release moved to Saturday

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.