Journalists demand release of civilian hostages in Aceh
Tiarma Siboro and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Dozens of journalists rallied in front of the office of Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs on Tuesday to demand the government's intervention in the efforts to release civilians who have been held hostage by Aceh rebels for four months.
The journalists said the government should share the burden of the prolonged plight experienced by the hostages, including Ersa Siregar and Ferry Santoro from the RCTI television channel, who are currently being hold hostage by the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
"The government is responsible for civilian protection in Aceh, and we hope that Ersa and Ferry can be reunited with their families before Idul Fitri," Budiono of Metro TV said.
Ishak Zubaedy Raqib from Yogyakarta-based Kedaulatan Rakyat daily newspaper said the ongoing policy in Aceh would be worthless in the view of national and international communities if civilians, including journalists, were being sacrificed by what the military calls its military operations.
Ersa, Ferry and dozens of Acehnese, including the wives of two TNI officers -- Cut Farida and her sister Cut Soraya -- were captured by GAM fighters in Peureulak in East Aceh on their way back from a refugee camp in North Aceh on June 29.
The rebels accused them of espionage, but later, after interrogating them, declared them clear of the allegation.
The GAM members have demanded a ceasefire to allow for a safe release of the civilians, but the Indonesian Military has rejected the terms.
Humanitarian workers from the Indonesian Red Cross have several times tried to mediate the negotiations to release the hostages, but it has always ended up in a deadlock.
Budiono, the spokesman for the journalists, suggested that the government consider a peaceful effort to free the hostages.
Deputy to the coordinating minister, Insp. Gen. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, said the government was facing difficulties to release the hostages as the whereabouts of the civilians was unknown.
Alex said the military authorities in Aceh were continuing efforts to release the hostages.
"But it requires thorough preparations, including knowledge about the strength of GAM members and the definite hiding place of these hostages." he said.
"I realize that Aceh province is a vast territory. It is twice as big as East Java province and we have difficulties detecting GAM's camps where Ersa, Ferry and other civilian hostages are currently being held," Alex said.
The journalists questioned the TNI's intelligence.
"What we are asking for is not a rescue through a military operation because it will be too risky for the hostages who may be harmed during the gunfight with GAM members," Budiono said.