AJI members missing in Banda Aceh, appeal for assistance for journalists
affected by tsunami disaster

30 December 2004

SOURCE: Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Jakarta

(AJI/IFEX) - The following is an AJI press release:
16 AJI members and one AJI staffer still missing in Banda Aceh

The disastrous earthquake and tsunami, which hit eight Asian and seven African countries on December 26, 2004, is estimated to have claimed more than 80.000 lives. According to the Republic of Indonesia's Ministry of Health, it has been estimated that at least 45.000 people were killed in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

AJI, an organization of journalists in Indonesia affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has members in the affected areas, including 11 colleagues in Lhokseumawe and another 25 in Banda Aceh, as well as a security guard for the AJI office in Banda Aceh. AJI members in Jakarta also have relatives in Aceh.

Currently, AJI is monitoring the situation of its members and their families. Based on the latest reports received, all of AJI's members in Lhokseumawe are safe, while in Banda Aceh only nine members have been confirmed alive and 17 are still missing.

The list of missing persons is as follows:
1. Basri Daham
2. Darmansyah
3. Erismawati (Journalist, Serambi Indonesia)
4. Herianto (Journalist, Serambi Indonesia)
5. Mahdi Abdullah (Journalist, Kontras)
6. Marhiansyah Azizi (Journalist, RCTI)
7. Muhammad Din (Journalists, Kontras)
8. Muharram M. Noer (Journalist, Kontras)
9. Muhammad Rizal (Journalist, Serambi Indonesia)
10. Nazamuddin Arbie (Journalist, Serambi Indonesia)
11. Nurnihayati
12. Ridwan Ishaq (Journalist, Serambi Indonesia)
13. Said Kamaruzzaman Sayed (Journalist, Kontras)
14. Taufan Nugraha (Journalist, KBR 68H)
15. Uzair (Journalist, Radio Prima FM)
16. Zainal Arifin Nur (Journalist, Serambi Indonesia)
17. Munar (security officer, AJI Banda Aceh)

AJI is appealing to the international community to provide assistance to its colleagues who are victims of this disaster. Financial assistance may be sent to:

Account Number: 446-1479
Beneficiary Name: ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS
Name of Bank: BNI Senayan Branch
SWIFT Code: BNINIDJA
Address of Bank: Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 55, Central Jakarta 10210

Other assistance may be sent to:

AJI Indonesia Secretariat
Jl. Danau Poso Blok D1 no. 29, Bendungan Hilir, Jakarta, Indonesia 10210
Phone: +62 21 5790 0489, Fax: +62 21 573 4581

Jakarta, December 30, 2004
The Alliance of Independent Journalists Eddy Suprapto, President

For further information, contact:

1. Jakarta Coordinating Post:
Eddy Suprapto (+62 818 774 724)
Ulin Niam Yusron (+62 818 912 361)
Abdul Manan (+62 818 948 316)
Lensi Mursida (+62 815 943 5493)
Yulia Siswaningsih (+62 815 1322 0269 or 1127 9559)
Lina (+62 812 839 0035)

2. Banda Aceh Coordinating Post:
Nani Afrida (+62 812 696 0395)

3. Lhokseumawe Coordinating Post:
Zaenal Bakri (+62 811 671 971)
Ayi Jufridar (+62 811 672 648)

4. Medan Coordinating Post:
Dedi Ardiansyah (62 815 3313 0251)

For further information, contact the Alliance of Independent Journalists (Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, AJI), Jl. Danau Poso D1 no. 29, Bendungar Hilir, Jakarta 10210 Indonesia, tel: +62 21 5790 0489, fax: +62 21 573 4581,
e-mail: ajioffice@aji-indonesia.or.id, Internet: http://www.ajinews.or.id

The information contained in this press release/alert is the sole responsibility of AJI. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit AJI.