MILITARY FREE WOMEN HELD HOSTAGE BY GAM

January 29, 2004 – ((Antara) Government troops successfully freed two soldiers' wives who had been held hostage by the separatist Free Aceh movement (GAM) in Aceh since June, the Army said on Thursday.

The two women were freed by a military operation against GAM, Indonesian Defense Force (TNI) commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said.

The women were abducted along with two private RCTI television station crew members, Ersa Siregar and Ferry Santoro.

Ersa was killed in an encounter between the military and the separatists on Dec 29.

The government has sent soldiers and policemen to Aceh to crush GAM, which has for decades been trying to set up an independent state within the oil-rich but underdeveloped province.

Received from Joyo Indonesia News

Circulated by
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: http://tapol.gn.apc.org
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia,
1973-2003