(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is 21 June 2001 IFJ press release: MEAA and IFJ lobby to secure journalists’ safety in Aceh SOURCE: IFJ Asia Pacific Office/AJI Indonesia/SEAPA The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance and the International Federation of Journalists are extremely concerned about the welfare and safety of journalists working in the Indonesian region of […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is 21 June 2001 IFJ press release:
MEAA and IFJ lobby to secure journalists’ safety in Aceh
SOURCE: IFJ Asia Pacific Office/AJI Indonesia/SEAPA
The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance and the International Federation of Journalists are extremely concerned about the welfare and safety of journalists working in the Indonesian region of Aceh. The attacks on press freedom and physical assaults on journalists in the region have reached a crisis point. “The situation in Aceh is now as serious as the worst days of the East Timor crisis,” said MEAA Federal Secretary and IFJ President, Christopher Warren.
The most recent attack on press freedom occurred on June 20, 2001 with the closure of Aceh’s largest newspaper, the Serambi Indonesia. The newspaper was forced to cease publication following a campaign of terror waged on the newspaper and its staff by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). On 19 June 2001, a GAM spokesperson made a statement threatening to kidnap and kill Serambi Indonesia’s editorial staff, as well as promising to destroy Serambi Indonesia’s office.
Following an urgent request for support from the IFJ’s affiliates, the Alliance of Independent Journalists [Indonesia] and the South East Asian Press Alliance, IFJ has sent letters of protest to Indonesian President Wahid and the heads of the Indonesian Police and Military. The IFJ has urged all its affiliates to lobby their governments to secure press freedom and journalists safety in Aceh.
As the IFJ affiliate in Australia, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance has sent letters to Prime Minister Howard, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Alexander Downer MP and the Hon. Laurie Brereton, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, seeking their support to help secure the safety of journalists in Aceh and to discuss these issues with Indonesian President Wahid during his upcoming visit to Australia.
The IFJ is organising an urgent delegation of IFJ representatives to meet with leaders of the Free Aceh Movement who are currently in exile in Sweden.