SEAPA Jakarta Protest Against Bombings in Aceh

October 28, 2002

JAKARTA -- The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta SEAPA is alarmed with another arson attack in recent weeks, this time on the expedition cars of the Serambi Indonesia daily, in Banda Aceh, capital of the troubled region Aceh, twice by unknown individuals on October 22 and October 24, 2002.

The first incident occurred at dawn as the expedition car was travelling on the Banda Aceh Boulevard to the city of Meulaboh, West Aceh. The car planned to distribute papers to the Northwestern strip o0f Aceh. Around 2.45am, the Serambi car was driving through the Lhoknga district, West Aceh when it was blockaded by four armed men. They told the driver and the distribution officer to get off the car and leave. "We're borrowing you car," said one of the men. But before the Serambi employees got far, they saw the four men set the car alight.

The second similar incident happened two days later on October 24. Another expedition car carrying 5000 copies of Serambi papers was stopped by two armed men in the town of Bungkah, North Aceh, near the border of Aceh and North Sumatra. The two forced to get in and took control of the car. They then drove away from the main road, taking hostage the two Serambi employees in the car, blindfolded and cuffed.

Somewhere along the way, the employees were released. The car drove on towards the border. Later on that day villagers of Cot Murang told

Serambi that its car has been found burned.

So far neither the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) nor the armed forces TNI claimed responsibility.

However local journalists said that the arson

was related to a Serambi Indonesia report earlier in October where Minister of Defense and Political Affairs sponsored a petition with the Aswaja Islamic clerics, which urges the society that "it is forbidden to fight the government" and that the government must "destroy GAM".

Since the break of the conflict, Serambi Indonesia has lost eight expedition cars.

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) Jakarta urges all the parties in conflict to honor and respect the press as a tool for reconciliation.

Serambi Indonesia has worked independently even under duress from both GAM and the TNI. Responding every article with violence will not resolve

the ongoing conflict in Aceh. Violence against the press will instead further the onslaught of innocent civilians. Therefore in the spirit of

peace, SEAPA Jakarta pleads to all the conflicting parties to allow journalists and media workers to conduct their duties without fear.

Yours Respectfully
Lukas Luwarso, Country Director
Solahudin, Advocacy Coordinator