INDONESIA: 18 Aceh-based reporters missing

Indonesian Journalist Association says many were from Serambi Indonesia daily

Pacific Media Watch
Wednesday, January 12, 2005

BANDA ACEH (Antara/Pacific Media Watch): At least 18 reporters based in Banda Aceh and adjacent Aceh Besar regency are still missing from the December 26 tsunami disaster, according to the local office of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI).

Data from PWI Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam showed that most of the missing reporters worked for local media, many for Banda Aceh's Serambi Indonesia daily.

Adnan Nyak Sarung, PWI Aceh chairman, said 18 were missing as of Wednesday from among the 250 reporters based in Aceh.

"We have not been able to collect complete information on them and their families due to communication difficulties in the affected areas," he said.

Adnan said the toll of missing reporters could still rise, as they had not yet received reports from other regencies -- Aceh Jaya, Aceh Barat, Aceh Barat Daya, Aceh Selatan, Pidie and Aceh Utara.

One of the missing is Andaman Sutrisno, a staffer with PWI Aceh's secretariat, along with his wife and children.

Missing Serambi Indonesia reporters are: Erismawaty, Muharram, Ewiyan Syafri, Muhammad Rokan, Karta Gusti and Kamaruzzaman.

Missing reporters from other media are: Nadjmuddin Oemar from Kompas; Agussalim from Baiturrahman Radio; Riskal Feisal from Kokoh; M.S. Adamy from SIB; A.R.

Gansila and Miswar from DR magazine; Ismail MK, Faisal Hasan, Didin and Taufan Nugraha from 68H Radio; and Safwan from Analisa.

Date Posted: 1/12/2005