Two freed RI journalists cross into Jordan safely
Two freed RI journalists cross into Jordan safely
Shafika Mattar, Associated Press/Amman
Two Indonesian Journalists and their Jordanian driver freed by militants in Iraq crossed into neighboring Jordan on Tuesday, an Indonesia Embassy official said.
"They have crossed the border into Jordan and they will meet the press later in the day," said the embassy official who refused to be identified.
Meutya Hafid, 26, and 36-year-old cameraman Budiyanto, as well as driver Ibrahim Abdel Khader were abducted last week by militants outside Ramadi, a volatile city west of Baghdad.
Meutya, Budiyanto and Abdel Khader had been waiting on the Iraqi side of the border with Jordan since late Monday as the border had been closed for a week from Feb. 17 by the Iraqi government for the Shiite Ashoura holiday.
"We are absolutely delighted that all the hard work has brought a positive outcome, namely the freeing and the evacuation of the Indonesian hostages," Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said in Jakarta.
In a live telephone interview with their employer, Indonesian television network Metro TV, Meutya and Budiyanto said they were in good condition and thanked Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for helping to arrange their release.
"Without your help, we may not have been released immediately," Meutya said in comments addressed to Susilo. "Thanks be to God, these people (captors) are those who struggle for faith," she said. "We are not their enemy. No one dared to touch me or Budiyanto. Their leader said if they touched me, they would be sentenced to death."
Meutya's cameraman, Budiyanto, said they were treated "very well" and that "there was no intimidation or pressure at all."
"We were driven blindfolded to a location very far away from any residential area," said Budiyanto. "We stayed in a very small place in the remote desert where we were closely monitored and observed."
The three said they were abducted by three men, including one who had an AK47 assault rifle, while refueling their vehicle.
Militants in a videotape received on Monday by the Associated Press Television News in Baghdad said the three were released because of the "goodwill" shown by the captives and religious ties.
"Based on the goodwill they showed, and respecting the feelings of brotherhood and Islam between the two countries, and respecting the Indonesian anti-occupation role, we decided to release the two journalists without any conditions and ransom," said a masked person in the video, reading from a notebook. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country.
The Indonesian government was critical of the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, and has refused to send troops to the country.