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.