SBY tells journalists to learn
SBY tells journalists to learn
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met on Thursday two Indonesian
journalists who had been released from captivity in Iraq at the
gazebo in front of his office here.
Despite his relief upon their release, the President called on
journalists to treat the abduction as a lesson and asked those
covering conflicts both in Indonesia and overseas to listen to
the government's advice.
"There are many lessons we can learn from this case. It is the
duty of the journalists whose work brings them to conflict areas
both in Indonesia and abroad. Never lose the spirit to carry on
your duty.
"(But) in certain conflict-prone areas such as Aceh and Iraq,
journalists must understand the risks and always be careful,
alert and stay in touch with the government. It's not because the
government likes to nag. If they end up in trouble, the
government will have to take responsibility," Susilo said in his
speech at a reception for Metro TV journalists Meutya Hafid and
Budiyanto.
Susilo added that the release of the two journalists
was the result of the hard work of many parties from Indonesia
and the international community.
He expressed the hope that similar cooperation could also work
in Aceh, where reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the
aftermath of the tsunami disaster last December are underway.
"Hopefully, solidarity within our nation will be able to boost
the reconstruction program in Aceh," he said.
The President looked relaxed when he asked the journalists to
tell him their stories.
Reporter Meutya and cameraman Budiyanto were taken directly to
the State Palace upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport after a flight from Amman. Metro TV owner and media
magnate Surya Paloh and the journalists' families joined them in
the reception at the palace.
Also present were Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda,
foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa, presidential
spokespersons Andi Mallarangeng and Dino Patti Djalal, Crisis
Settlement Unit head Triyono Wibowo and several members of the
government's team who worked for the release of the journalists.
Meutya and Budiyanto were abducted by an armed group in Iraq
near Ramadi, a guerrilla stronghold west of Baghdad on Feb. 15
and were taken to a secret hideout.
Susilo had made a televised appeal to the kidnappers for the
release of the two journalists, saying they were working in a
fellow Muslim country in a professional capacity. The two were
released on Monday.