(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a 24 May 2003 statement by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member: Attacks on Journalists in Aceh The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta condemns the attacks on journalists and media offices in Aceh since the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) declared war on the […]
(AJI/IFEX) – The following is a 24 May 2003 statement by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), of which AJI is a member:
Attacks on Journalists in Aceh
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta condemns the attacks on journalists and media offices in Aceh since the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) declared war on the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on May 19, 2003. SEAPA has recorded seven attacks so far in the forms of shootings, terror, burnings and kidnappings.
The first shooting of a media vehicle occurred on May 23, 2003, when a TV 7 van was riddled with bullets as the TV crew was entering the town of Sigli in the district of Pidie. The following day, an RCTI car was targeted and shot in the same district. Also, on May 24, 2003, a car belonging to Metro TV and Media Indonesia was shot as the crew entered Blang Mane village, in the district of Bireuen. The car was following a TNI convoy and a “Metro TV” sticker was visible on each side of the van. Journalists said they suspected GAM members to be involved in the shooting. No journalist was harmed during the shootings.
On May 21, 2003, in a separate location 25 km east of Banda Aceh, unidentified arsonists set fire to the Regional 1 transmitter tower belonging to the state-owned Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI).
On May 23, 2003, the private radio station Andyta, located in the district of Bireuen, stopped broadcasting due to threats from GAM.
Banda Aceh TVRI crew member Muhammad Jamal was reportedly kidnapped as he was working in his office. Neither Jamal’s fate nor the motive for the kidnapping is known.
Also in Banda Aceh, private station Radio Nikoya 106 FM Banda Aceh announced on May 24, 2003, that it has stopped broadcasting news due to death threats from GAM for airing TNI statements.
As an organisation that promotes freedom of the press, SEAPA Jakarta deplores such acts, which obstruct the work of journalists and threaten both media workers and offices. SEAPA would like to strongly remind all conflicting parties in the war in Aceh that violence against the press also violates the public’s right to accurate information.
SEAPA Jakarta urges all the conflicting parties to honour the United Nations resolution on the protection of journalists, referred to in Protocol I, Geneva Convention on Protection of Civilians at War (1949), Article 79, Paragraph 1, which states that journalists reporting in an armed conflict must be treated as civilians. Therefore, they must not be attacked.
Jakarta, May 24, 2003.
Yours Respectfully,
Lukas Luwarso
Country Director
Solahudin
Advocacy Coordinator
