Journalists rally for Fery's release

SEMARANG: Dozens of journalists rallied on Tuesday to demand the release of RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro and more than 200 other civilians held hostage by Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels.

The journalists, including Fery's brother-in-law, Bambang Henky, urged both GAM and the Indonesian Military to pave the way for the release of the civilians, which has been scheduled for May 13.

"We desperately hope that GAM will not postpone the release," said Ardiansah of the Independent Journalists Association. He added the Indonesian Military should recognize the goodwill of the separatist group for the sake of hundreds of lives. --JP