(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a letter by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member: Your Excellencies, 1. Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) General Endriartono Sutarto Tel: +62 (21) 84591240 Fax: +62 (21) 84591247 2. Military Emergency Authority in Aceh Major General Endang Suwarya 3. President of GAM […]
(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a letter by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member:
Your Excellencies,
1. Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI)
General Endriartono Sutarto
Tel: +62 (21) 84591240
Fax: +62 (21) 84591247
2. Military Emergency Authority in Aceh Major General Endang Suwarya
3. President of GAM Hasan Tiro
Fax: +4685 319 1275 / +4685 318 3833
Dear Sirs,
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta condemns the arson attacks by unidentified armed men on Serambi Indonesia delivery trucks in Indonesia’s war-torn province Aceh, on two separate occasions in mid July 2003.
The first attack occurred on the morning of 17 July 2003. At the time, the newspaper’s Isuzu Panther pickup truck was returning to Aceh’s capital, Banda Aceh, after making runs to the western district town of Meulaboh. When the truck arrived near the Babahdua Bridge in the town of Lamno Jaya, three men armed with pistols stopped the vehicle. They ordered the two Serambi employees to step out of the truck. The armed men then took over possession of the vehicle and drove for a kilometre before burning the Panther.
The second arson attack took place in Balee Baroh village, north of Aceh, also on the morning of 23 July 2003. While the first attack involved an empty truck, the second pickup was carrying a full load of 10,000 copies of Serambi newspapers to be distributed in Lhoksuemawe. Five men with pistols halted the vehicle, when it arrived at the village, 30 kilometres from Lhoksuemawe. They jumped into the truck and forced the driver to drive away from the Banda Aceh-Medan highway. After a while, the men ordered the two Serambi drivers to leave and then torched the loaded truck.
Local journalists suspect that Free Aceh Movement (GAM) personnel are the perpetrators. The journalists said some GAM officials have expressed anger towards Serambi Indonesia, the only Acehnese daily newspaper in circulation. Serambi Indonesia has not published any GAM statements since martial law was imposed on 19 May 2003. The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have demanded that all Indonesian publications refrain from publishing any statements made by GAM. On 20 May 2003, Major General Endang Suwarya, head of the martial law administration in Aceh, urged the press to report on the framework of the “unity of the nation”.
Since it started publishing in 1989, Serambi Indonesia has lost 10 vehicles due to arson attacks. The July attacks were the first incidents since martial law was imposed. SEAPA Jakarta has recorded at least 23 cases of attacks against journalists on the 67th day of the war (24 July 2003), in the form of threats, shootings, intimidation, assault, eviction, arson and obstruction.
SEAPA Jakarta again urges the TNI and GAM to respect freedom of the press and protect journalists. The existence of the press is crucial, as it is essential to providing accurate information on the conditions in Aceh. Moreover, accurate reporting requires safe working conditions whereby journalists can work without fear.
Yours Respectfully,
Lukas Luwarso
Executive Director
Solahudin
Advocacy Coordinator
