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4 June 2003
JOURNALISTS UNDER FIRE IN ACEH
In Indonesia, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have raised the alarm over a series of attacks on journalists covering the military conflict in Aceh province and what they say is mounting evidence of the Indonesian military?s moves to restrict reporting there.
Since 19 May, when Indonesia imposed martial law in Aceh and launched a massive military offensive against the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), there have been at least seven incidents in which journalists have been attacked while traveling in the area, CPJ and SEAPA report. Although none of them were injured, several came under gunfire by unidentified men as their cars were traveling between the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, and the town of Lhokseumawe.
The journalists included Rizal Wahyu and Yusrizal of TV 7, Trans TV reporter Delphi Sinambela, ?Time? magazine reporter Andrew Marshall and Public Radio International correspondent Orlando de Guzman.
Meanwhile, in the past two weeks, Indonesian security forces have detained, interrogated and threatened local journalists and foreign reporters who have reported on abuses committed by the military, CPJ notes. Indonesia?s military commander in Aceh has also warned journalists not to report any statements issued by GAM leaders saying, ?I want all news published to contain the spirit of nationalism.?
SEAPA and CPJ have also expressed concern that the government?s decision to ?embed? 50 Indonesian journalists with its troops may put the journalists in greater danger of being targeted by GAM rebels because they may no longer be seen as neutral observers. A rebel commander told a foreign reporter that GAM considers embedded reporters to be legitimate military targets.
Visit these links:
- SEAPA: http://www.seapabkk.org/alerts/2003/20030603.html
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2003/Indonesia29may03na.html
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=6952
- Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/05/aceh052003.htm
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