International and local journalist groups have called for an independent investigation into the killing by Indonesian troops of a television reporter in Aceh province, six months after he was kidnapped by separatist rebels.
Army chief General Ryamizard Ryacudu and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) both shrugged off responsibility for the death of Ersa Siregar in a clash between marines and the guerrillas in East Aceh on Monday. "Bullets cannot see who is GAM and who is a journalist," Ryacudu said.
Siregar, a 52-year-old father of three, was a senior reporter for the private RCTI station. He was the third journalist to be killed since the military launched a massive operation in May to try to crush the guerrillas.
The New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists urged the military "to fully investigate the circumstances behind this tragic incident and make the findings public". The International Federation of Journalists said both sides "have to share responsibility for this tragic death".
In a statement it said IFJ delegates met Indonesian ambassadors around the world and the government in Jakarta just days ago, seeking safe circumstances for a release.
Siregar, his cameraman Fery Santoro, their driver and the wives of two military officers were abducted on June 29 in the province on Sumatra island. The driver escaped earlier this month. There has been no word on the fate of the others.
IFJ president Christopher Warren said GAM had agreed to hand over the two journalists in August but the military would not allow the free movement of human rights organisations to secure the release. He said that "only an independent international inquiry can establish the truth about this tragic death".
The government has imposed martial law on the province and for months severely restricted the movement of aid and other groups and of foreign journalists.
Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists also blamed both sides, saying their failure to reach agreement had stalled several efforts to obtain the release of the captives. It also called for an inquiry.
The military said marines were combing the area when they encountered guerrillas and a firefight broke out. Two bodies were found later, one of them a rebel and the other Siregar. Troops also found Santoro's press cards and clothes.
Ryacudu told reporters in Bali the 20-minute clash happened in a marsh and forest area with poor visibility. "He was hit by [bullets from] TNI soldiers... because he was with the GAM," the army chief said.
"War journalists are operating in wars and to be hit by bullet is a risk." Military spokesman Major General Sjafrie Sjamsuddin said a military investigation has already started.
"According to procedures, the team of investigation should have begun work starting as of today," the state Antara news agency quoted him as saying while awaiting the arrival of Siregar's body at Jakarta airport.
GAM operational commander for East Aceh, Ishak Daud, told AFP in Jakarta that GAM had recently asked local and international Red Cross officials to pick up the hostages. But the meeting failed to take place because neither group obtained approval from the military, he said, without explaining why the hostages had been held for six months.
In a text message Daud said Siregar was "apparently" shot at close range. He said the reporter had been shot in the leg during an earlier skirmish and had been unable to run away.
The media groups urged both sides immediately to arrange the release of Santoro and the other captives.
In May the body of a TVRI cameraman who had been abducted by unidentified gunmen was found in a river with torture marks. Another Indonesian journalist was killed in an accident involving an armoured car.