Journalist detained after visiting Aceh<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An American journalist, who was caught up in a tussle between the
\nmilitary and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) a few years
\nago, has been detained at the Polonia Airport in Medan on Sunday
\nafter visiting Aceh.<\/p>\n
William A. Nessen said on Sunday that he had wanted to go to
\nKuala Lumpur, but was instead flown to Jakarta by the authorities
\nto "meet an immigration official" here.<\/p>\n
"The immigration people are treating me well. They are good
\npeople. But someone else does not like Nessen being in Aceh,"
\nNessen told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Nessen entered the country on Jan. 2 and was given a visa-on-
\narrival. "My status here is legal as I have a legal and valid
\nvisa to visit Indonesia ... I did not sneak in."<\/p>\n
Nessen suspected that the military was behind his being held
\nup.<\/p>\n
Military spokesman in Aceh, Col. Nachrowi, said the military
\nhad nothing to do with holding up Nessen in Medan, saying that it
\nwas purely the business of the immigration office.<\/p>\n
"The military had nothing to do with this matter, but the
\ninformation I received is that the immigration office considered
\nthat Nessen had breached rules in entering Aceh, just like when
\nhe breached immigration rules during the martial law period (in
\nAceh)," Nachrowi said.<\/p>\n
Nessen caused a furor in 2003 when he went to Aceh to report
\nthe war from the side of the Free Aceh Movement. He was even
\ncaught up in a firefight between GAM and TNI forces, in which
\nscores of TNI soldiers were killed.<\/p>\n
Nessen survived the ordeal but ended up in court for
\nimmigration violations. Indonesian authorities then slapped a ban
\non Nessen from entering the country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/journalist-detained-after-visiting-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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