Indonesia: Two Tv Newsmen Missing In Aceh

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RCTI JOURNALISTS DISAPPEAR IN ACEH

JAKARTA (JP/Pacific Media Watch): A reporter and a cameraman from Indonesia's RCTI private television station are reportedly missing since Sunday while on assignment in Langsa, Aceh, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman for the martial law administration Col. Ditya Soedarsono said the reporter, Ersa Siregar, and cameraman Very Santoro, reportedly went missing about 4 p.m.

"Their last communication was made while they were traveling from Langsa to Lhokseumawe," Ditya was quoted by Antara as saying.

Ditya said the journalists, who had been covering the military operation in Aceh since May 19, had disappeared along with their driver Rahmatsyah. Their vehicle has not been found.

It was also reported that the journalists had been stopped by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in a forest in Bireun, but were released before they were reported as missing.

Last month, a journalist of state television TVRI was found dead after being kidnapped by unidentified people and held hostage for almost a month.

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