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ACHEH-SUMATRA NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT
(ASNLF ) |
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PRESS RELEASE 1. The Leadership of the Acheh National Armed Forces (TNA) wishes to stress once again that the TNA support fully the work of journalists covering the events in Acheh truthfully. The TNA still and will always protect the freedom of movement of journalists anywhere in Acheh without exception, as long as they carry their duties in accordance with the journalistic codes of ethics. From the very beginning of the declaration of the martial law in Acheh by the Indonesian colonial authorities, these duties have become much heavier as the journalists have to face the threats and harassment from the Indonesian military. 2. The TNA intelligence had obtained information that among the group of journalists working in Acheh were inserted SGI (Combined Intelligence Unit of the Indonesian armed forces) operators masquerading as reporters. Other than performing intelligence work against the TNA they were also given the task of observing and data-basing real journalists posted to Acheh. This has been proven by so many reports received about vehicles marked PRESS, but with uniformed passengers in them. 3. The arrest and detention of 5 people in East Acheh recently (1 driver, 1 cameraman and a reporter of the RCTI TV, and two women), who are wives of high Indonesian Airforce officers, are intended solely for investigation purposes. Once they are proven to be innocent under the usual international norms, and we are certain that they are not TNI spies in Acheh, we shall release them immediately. The presence of high TNI officers' wives among the journalists needs to be investigated further. 4. Despite everything, the TNA still hopes to see some gentlemanly behaviour among the Indonesian military officers in conducting the war, and stop bombarding villages with F16 and Hawk jets and cease destroying houses of civilians. It is a deplorable lie that such bombing could destroy TNA's bases, as claimed by the TNI, because our forces are mobile guerilla units, constantly on the move, sometimes in the jungle, sometimes in the middle of a town.
For and on behalf of the TNA Commander-in-chief
The Military Spokesman,
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