Great joy for the release of two Indonesian hostages
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Hostages' families along with the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono are in great joy to learn about the release of the two Indonesian citizens Meutya Hafid and Budiyanto-- being abducted for 7 days as hostage in Ramadi, Iraq. Speaking to scores of journalists in her residence in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, Mrs Metty Hafid Meutya's mother - shouted for joy learning that her youngest daughter was released together with her colleague Budiyanto - both reporter and cameramen of Jakarta-based Metro TV.
President SBY expressed his appreciation to those who had helped to the release of both Meutya and Budiyanto after being 'abducted' by an armed faction of Mujahiddin Army of Iraq. "The President is in great joy to learn the good news while also thanking for those who helped the process of negotiation," says Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda as quoted as saying after discussing the issue with SBY in State Palace.
Former President Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur also joined in this chorus of joy. "Alhamdulilah, as a person having been contacted by the government, I am in deep joy to learn to good news," says former chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). He said that his inner circle had also got the first footage of the release from 'friends in Iraq'. To Gus Dur's mind, the quick release of the two Indonesian hostages without any condition represents the fact that the Indonesian society is warmly accepted by the people of Iraq. "This means that we are not interested in interference the domestic politics in Iraq," adds this charismatic Muslim leader.
The 'abduction' of Meutya Hafid and Budiyanto should take place in case of 'miscalculation' by the kidnappers. "They might have thought that Muslim Indonesians are Shites. It is quite understandable since in Iraq both Shite and Sunni had become political wings," said Gus Dur who has great influence in the Muslim communities around the globe. He got the news of the release of the two Indonesian hostages only minutes after the so-called Jaish Al Mujahiddin issued the statement at 01.00 PM Jakarta time.
Footage of the release was first to be available to Indonesian media after AP Television News aired a video showing Meutya Hafid and Budiyanto shaking hands with one of their kidnappers following the hand-over of the Holy Quran and passports. The masked kidnapper said that the abduction was done for being suspicious on their arrival in Ramadi. "But based on the goodwill they had shown to us and respecting the feeling of Muslim brotherhood and Jakarta's rejection to the foreign occupation (in Iraq), we decided to release them without any condition and ransom," he said.
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