Cameraman murdered in Aceh

Reporters Without Borders called today on the Indonesian government to investigate the murder of cameraman Mohamad Jamaluddin, of the state-run TV station TVR1, whose body was found on 17 June at the village of Kreung Cut, near Banda Aceh (capital of Aceh province, in north Sumatra). A police spokesman said his body was found in a river. Witnesses told Reuters news agency his eyes and mouth were covered with adhesive tape, his hands tied and a rope with a stone attached was round his neck. The 30-year-old Jamaluddin was kidnapped on 20 May, a few hours after the government imposed martial law on the province and began a drive against the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Nobody has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and murder. Atmakusumah Astraatmadja, chairman of the independent National Press Council, called on 20 June for police to make a thorough investigation, notably into allegations that the journalist was collecting money for the rebels.