RI journalists missing in Iraq

Rendi A. Witular and Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Two Indonesian television journalists, who have been incommunicado since driving through a notorious rebel stronghold in Iraq, got the attention of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who publicly appealed for their freedom.

Reporter Meutya Hafid and cameraman Budiyanto of Metro TV last contacted their office on Tuesday while driving from Amman to Karbala, chief editor Don Bosco Salamun said.

Officials of the foreign affairs ministry had earlier said they were still seeking to verify the reports, while Don Bosco had expressed hopes that the loss of the contact with the journalists was "just a communication breakdown".

Susilo made the public appeal late on Friday after meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda.

"I ask for those who've detained the two journalists to free them immediately. They are innocent, they went to Iraq on a journalistic mission and had no political motives to get involved in the Iraq conflict. Their families are waiting for their return. I also express my appreciation in advance for anyone who helps save them," Susilo told reporters at the State Palace.

Susilo said that the government would use diplomatic channels to lobby the government of Iraq as well as its neighbors Syria, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. They also hope to make contact with Iraqi religious figures and request their help.

Hassan said the ministry would send a special team on Saturday to handle the issue.

"We will send them to Jordan to coordinate efforts to free the journalists," he told reporters after meeting Susilo.

Susilo also said that the government had asked Meutya's mother and Budiyanto's wife to make public appeals that can be aired on foreign media, including the Dubai-based Al-Jazeera TV station.

Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa had earlier cited reports from the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, Jordan. The owner of the vehicle rented by the journalists, Deeb Nabulsi, had told the embassy that drivers of other rental companies had reported seeing the group being ambushed by an armed group in military fatigues in Ramadi, a Sunni-controlled area some 100 kilometers west of Baghdad.

After covering Iraq's elections from Feb. 1 to Feb. 12, the journalists returned to Amman, Don Bosco said. Then they were assigned to cover the Muslim New Year celebration in Karbala, the Shiite holy city about 102 kilometers southwest of Baghdad.

The Indonesian Embassy in Amman was aware of the journalists' presence and their activities in Iraq.

Don Bosco said the journalists left for Karbala on Tuesday, Feb. 15, when they last contacted the office. "The news coordinator in Jakarta received a text message around 3 p.m. (Jakarta time) on Tuesday from the journalists, which said that they had arrived in Iraq."

Despite the ministry's warning against traveling in the war zone, Don Bosco said the station decided to send its "best reporters" to cover Iraq. Photo -- Page 4