'TVRI' celebrates release of hostages

'TVRI' celebrates release of hostages

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

State TVRI television's local station in Medan, North Sumatra,
held a gathering on Saturday to mark the release of three of its
technicians who had been held by the Free Aceh Separatist
Movement (GAM) for almost two months.

During the gathering, the staff of the TV station expressed
their gratitude to God, while the three, who were accompanied by
their relatives, were feted by their colleagues. The strong hope
was expressed by all that no such incident would occur in the
future.

Also attending the gathering were Sumitha Tobing, director of
TVRI, and other TVRI executives from Jakarta, Medan and Aceh.

The three, Kesuma Wijaya, 38, Bahrum Pohan, 41, and M. Suheri,
39, were abducted by GAM on their way back from Banda Aceh to
Medan in July and were interrogated by GAM in Perlak, East Aceh.

Suheri was released on Sept. 6, 2001 for health reasons while
the two others were freed on Oct. 1 after intensive negotiations
between GAM and TVRI.

Bahrum said they had been treated humanely but were very tired
because they had been forced to move from one area to another.

"We were well fed and there was no mistreatment," he said
after the gathering.

Sumitha said that learning from the abduction, TVRI would
adopt a neutral position in its coverage of conflict-prone
regions.

"TVRI will continue to play a neutral role, especially in
restive regions and, therefore, the conflicting parties should
understand the neutral position of the press.

Sumitha denied GAM's accusation that the TV station has taken
the government's side in its coverage of the strife-torn
province.

"TVRI is not the voice of the government. It is our voice and
is aimed at accommodating the interests of the whole nation," she
said.