IFJ Demands Release of Indonesian Journalists Held Hostage in Aceh

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has sent a letter of protest to the Free Aceh Movement, (GAM) calling on GAM to immediately release two RCTI station television journalists, Ersa Siregar and Fery Santoro, who are currently being held hostage by GAM in East Aceh.

According to a report carried on Antara News Agency, the journalists had been contacted by RCTI station staff on the afternoon of Thursday 4 July. The reports are that the journalists are in good condition and in the hands of the Free Aceh movement.

The RCTI is preparing to send a team to negotiate to free the hostages. The IFJ has offered to be involved in the negotiations to secure the release of the two journalists.

The IFJ has also written to the Indonesian military calling on them not to launch a military offensive to release the journalists, fearing it may endanger their lives.

The IFJ have protested to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian military in the following two letters:

4 July 2003

Mr Teungku M. Hasan di Tiro
President
Acheh Sumatra National Liberation Front
P.O. BOX 130, S-145
01 NORSBORG
SWEDEN

Fax/Phone: +46853191275
Fax/Phone: +46853183833

Dear Mr Hasan di Tiro

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation of journalists representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is calling on the GAM to immediately release RCTI journalist Ersa Siregar and cameraman Fery Santoro.

According to our information, Ersa Siregar and Very Santoro went missing at about 4 p.m on Sunday 29 June while on assignment in Langsa, Aceh. The two journalists had been covering the military operation in Aceh since May 19. We now understand that they are being held by your organisation in East Aceh.

It is understood that they are being held along with three other people - a driver and two women - who were seized by GAM as the group traveled on their way to Lhoksemawe.

According to our information, the journalists are being held by your organisation as a protest against the ban on reporting of GAM statements, and the restrictions being placed by the Government of Indonesia on foreign journalists reporting on the Aceh conflict.

The IFJ reminds GAM that journalists are independent citizens and cannot be held responsible for the policies and actions of any group involved in the conflict in Aceh. While the IFJ expresses grave concern about the restrictions on reporting in Aceh, it is an indefensible response to use journalists and the media as pawns in this conflict.

The IFJ calls upon the GAM to immediately release the two journalists and to immediately cease any attacks on or threats against journalists and media in Aceh.

Yours sincerely


Christopher Warren
President, IFJ


4 July 2003

Commander of the Armed Forces
Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
Panglima TNI
Markas Besar TNI
Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No 13
Jakarta Pusat
Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 35 6404

Dear General

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation of journalists representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, has written to the Free Aceh (GAM) movement calling on the GAM to immediately release RCTI journalist Ersa Siregar and cameraman Fery Santoro, who now appear to be being held hostage in East Aceh. We are writing to you to request that the Indonesian military do not launch an offensive to release the journalists, as it may endanger the journalists' lives.

According to our information, Ersa Siregar and Very Santoro went missing at about 4 p.m on Sunday 29 June while on assignment in Langsa, Aceh. The two journalists had been covering the military operation in Aceh since May 19. We now understand that they are being held by GAM in East Aceh.

It is understood that they are being held along with three other people - a driver and two women - who were seized by GAM as the group traveled on their way to Lhoksemawe.

According to our information, the journalists are being held by GAM as a protest against the ban on reporting of GAM statements, and the restrictions being placed by the Government of Indonesia on foreign journalists reporting on the Aceh conflict.

The IFJ has reminded GAM that journalists are independent citizens and cannot be held responsible for the policies and actions of any group involved in the conflict in Aceh. While the IFJ expresses grave concern about the restrictions on reporting in Aceh, it is an indefensible response to use journalists and the media as pawns in this conflict.

The IFJ believes that if the Indonesian military were to launch an offensive in East Aceh, the journalists' lives may be in great danger. Accordingly, we call on you to not launch a military attack to release the journalists, but wait for a negotiated settlement to their release.

Yours sincerely


Christopher Warren
President, IFJ

Recommended action:

Send appeals:

* Condemning the capture of journalists Very Santoro and Ersa Siregar to GAM
* Calling on GAM to immediately release the hostages
* Calling on the Indonesian military to not launch a military attack.