Journalists demand release of civilian hostages in Aceh
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.