'Serambi Indonesia' resumes publication

BANDA ACEH: Banda Aceh-based daily Serambi Indonesia resumed publication on Friday after suspending printing on March 11 for security reasons.

The eight-page daily had to stop publishing due to threats from Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels, who alleged that its daily reports on events in Aceh were unbalanced.

In its editorial, the newspaper pledged to continue to take a neutral stance in reports on conflicts and the situation in Aceh.

"The delicate and complex problems in Aceh have taught us to be very careful and objective in delivering our reports, but still we have been accused of siding with a certain side. Of course there are threats and pressure but we are facing them with patience and acceptance of fate," the editorial said.

"Therefore we realize that being neutral also carries certain consequences but we are up to it as such a stance has been taken by the daily all this time," it said.

The censorship has received widespread condemnation from journalist organizations in Jakarta and elsewhere. (50/edt)