Indonesia releases two foreign seafarers<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh<\/p>\n
Indonesian authorities released on Sunday an Australian couple
\nafter four days in detention for having illegally entered the
\nwar-torn province of Aceh.<\/p>\n
Head of the Banda Aceh immigration office for the supervision
\nof foreigners, Imron Zubandi, said John Humphrey, 57, and Claire
\nSusan, 58, were released after questioning revealed that they did
\nnot intentionally enter Indonesian territory.<\/p>\n
\"The two had been stranded in Pulau Aceh after their boat was
\nhit by a storm. Because there was no violation, the immigration
\noffice which has questioned them and the security authorities
\nhave agreed to release them,\" Zubandi told reporters.<\/p>\n
The Australian couple was allowed to board their small ship
\nand depart Ulee Lheue harbor in the Pulau Nasi islands, north of
\nthe northernmost tip of Aceh, for international waters.<\/p>\n
The boat was escorted by a Navy patrol boat and a speedboat of
\nthe marine and air police.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Aceh martial law administrator, Col. Ditya
\nSoedarsono told reporters after seeing off the couple that the
\nmilitary would escort them to into international waters.<\/p>\n
He earlier said that the couple had not violated any laws.<\/p>\n
The two were arrested at Pulau Nasi island on Thursday after
\nthey landed without any permits for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The couple, who have been at sea for several years, made no
\ncomments to journalists but to announce Madagascar as their next
\ndestination.<\/p>\n
They had departed from Langkawi harbor in Malaysia on Sept. 22
\nbound for the east African island nation but were caught by a
\nstorm and sought refuge at Pulau Nasi.<\/p>\n
Security forces found the couple while on patrol on Nasi
\nisland on Thursday. The security personnel initially suspected
\nthe Australians of violating the Aceh martial law administration
\nruling which bars all foreigners from entering the province
\nwithout first obtaining special permit from the Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Although their entry into Indonesian waters was not intended,
\nthe presence of the small ship alarmed a group of military and
\npolice personnel who were patrolling the area in search of the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels.<\/p>\n
The immigration official said the Australian couple seemed to
\nbe unaware of the massive military operation underway in Aceh to
\ndestroy the separatist movement in the resource-rich province.<\/p>\n
The province has been under a state of military emergency
\nsince May 19.<\/p>\n
Earlier in June, soldiers shot and killed German national
\nLuther Hendrick Albert, 54, and wounded his companion Elizabeth
\nMargareth, 49, after a villager said he was suspicious of the two
\ninternational trekkers in Lhok Gayo village, Teunom district,
\nAceh Jaya regency.<\/p>\n
The German's death was the first foreign casualty since the
\ndeclaration of martial law and intensified military activity,
\nwhen the government warned foreign organizations and individuals
\nagainst traveling to the province for security concerns.<\/p>\n
Military authorities have also been upset by the entry of
\nAmerican freelance journalist William Nessen into the
\nnorthernmost province, an act it deemed a violation of martial
\nlaw imposed there. He apparently entered before May 19 and was
\ncovering the war from GAM side which thoroughly irked the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Nessen later left the GAM camp and was put on trial for a visa
\nviolation. He was declared guilty but given a lenient sentence
\nand deported upon the end of his jail term.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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