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.