by Mathias Hariyadi

They were there only to work, says President Susilo. Alleged Islamic terrorist Abu Bakar Bashir joins the chorus of appeals for their release.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Indonesian political and religious leaders as well as an alleged Islamic terrorist have joined forces to demand the liberation of two Indonesian journalists abducted in Iraq. They all insist that their presence in the country had no political purpose.

Speaking from the State Palace wearing the traditional koko, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appealed on Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite TV network for the unconditional release of the two journalists.  "They were on assignment," he said, "to cover the Iraqi elections for the Jakarta-based Metro TV."

A hitherto unknown armed Islamic group—Jaich al-Mujaiddine (the army of combatants)— claimed responsibility yesterday for the kidnapping of Meutya Hafid and Budiyanto.

The kidnappers demanded that the "Indonesian government explain what mission had brought the two journalists" to Iraq. They added that they would not be responsible for the security of the two hostages if the Indonesian government did not respond to their request.

A spokesperson for President Susilo said that the kidnappers have not yet responded to presidential appeal.

The mother of 26-year-old Hafid also made an appeal on the radio. "I pray Allah for the safety of my daughter and call on the kidnappers to free her. We Muslims are brothers," she said.

The abduction of the two Indonesian journalists is a paradox. Not only is Indonesia the world's largest Muslim country, but its government opposed US intervention from the beginning.

An appeal was made by controversial Islamic leader Abu Bakar Bashir who is in jail accused of being the spiritual guide of Jemaah Islamiah, a militant group linked to al-Qaeda.

President Susilo said that every step will be taken, diplomatic and otherwise, to free the hostages.

The head of Indonesia's National Intelligence Bureau, General Syamsir Siregar, went to see former President Abdurrahman Wahid (aka Gus Dur) to urge him to use his good offices with Muslim communities around the world, especially in Iraq where he studied as a young man, and establish contacts with the kidnappers. It was thanks to his involvement that other Indonesian kidnap victims, two young women, were freed last year.

Hidayat Nur Wahid, president of Indonesia's powerful People's Consultative Assembly and a former member of an Islamic party, the Prosperity and Justice Party, added his voice to the appeal in favour of the liberation of Hafid and Budiyanto.

The two journalists disappeared on the Amman-Baghdad road near Ramadi (west of Iraq's capital), the Indonesia Embassy in Iraq reported.

Armed gangs in Iraq still hold Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena. Pope John Paul II has called for her release as well.

 

 

• Indonesia
• iraq
• hostages
• abductions
• islam
• fundamentalists
• appeals
• liberation
• muslims
• journalists