American journalist stands trial for immigration offense<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The Banda Aceh District Court began on Wednesday the trial of an
\nAmerican freelance journalist for violating immigration law with
\nfour witnesses giving testimonies for the defendant.<\/p>\n
Forty-six-year-old William Nessen is charged with violating
\nArticles 50 and 51 of Law No. 9\/1992 on immigration carrying a
\nmaximum prison sentence of five years and a Rp 5 million (US$609)
\nfine.<\/p>\n
Nessen who writes for several print media, was arrested soon
\nafter he turned himself in to the military in North Aceh regency
\non June 24.<\/p>\n
The first hearing presented four witnesses, an official from
\nAceh Immigration Office Imron Zubandi, a propagandist from the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) Irwandi Yusuf, coordinator for the Aceh
\nReferendum Information Center (SIRA) Muhammad Nazar and a GAM
\nnegotiator Teuku Muhammad bin Usman.<\/p>\n
Imron in his testimony said that although Nessen could not
\nproduce a passport or any other documents upon the arrest, his
\npresence in the war-torn province was legal as he had secured a
\ncopy of a temporary stay permit from the directorate general of
\nimmigration.<\/p>\n
"However, the defendant has still violated immigration
\nregulations. The permit stated that he works as correspondent for
\nSan Francisco Chronicle, but in fact he also wrote for the Sydney
\nMorning Herald," Imron told the court.<\/p>\n
The second witness Irwandi said during his stint as
\ninterpreter for the defendant, he was once shown a letter issued
\nby the Aceh Police saying that Nessen was allowed to cover
\nstories anywhere in the province.<\/p>\n
Bin Usman, the third witness, said that he met Nessen when he
\nwas attending the installation of a new GAM military commander in
\nNisam, North Aceh in January 2003.<\/p>\n
"I saw him take pictures there and got a chance to know him
\nbetter only after we are both detained at the Banda Aceh Police
\nHeadquarters," he said.<\/p>\n
Nessen's defense lawyer Amir Syamsuddin said the testimonies
\nsupported his claim that his client had not violated immigration
\nlaw.<\/p>\n
"The accusation is baseless as Nessen's stay in Aceh was only
\nfor journalistic purposes," he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
In late December last year, the court sentenced Joy Lee
\nSadler, an American nurse, and Lesley McCulloch, a British
\nlecturer, to four and five months in prison respectively for visa
\nviolations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the intensifying conflict is taking its toll on
\ncivilians. Two teachers, a husband and wife, Muslim Sulaiman, 38,
\nand Darmawati, 34, were shot dead by suspected rebels in Drien
\nBungong, Pidie, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Aceh military said that the couple were shot on their way
\nhome after undergoing a screening. The screening which is
\nmandatory for civil servants, including teachers, is aimed at
\nnetting those involved in GAM activities.<\/p>\n
A report from the Aceh educational affairs office said that in
\nthe course of two months of martial law, seven teachers were
\nreported killed.<\/p>\n
Separately, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto revealed the government had called off its
\nplan to use Nasi island as a detention camp for captured GAM
\nmembers due to financial problems.<\/p>\n
The military chief said the martial law administration would
\nmake optimum use of prisons in the province before moving GAM
\ndetainees to the island.<\/p>\n
He said that the administration would expand the prisons in
\nthe province so that it could accommodate more inmates as it
\nwould be less costly than building a new one on the island.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/american-journalist-stands-trial-for-immigration-offense-1447893297",
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