Army chief suggests Nessen could be a spy

Army chief suggests Nessen could be a spy

Indonesia's army chief of staff on Friday questioned whether an
American journalist hiding with rebels in Aceh province was
really a reporter, suggesting he may be a spy who could be
executed if captured and convicted, a report said.

William Nessen, who has a journalist visa to work for the San
Francisco Chronicle, has been with the Free Aceh Movement since
last month. He defied a military order to turn himself into the
army by June 14, saying he first needed assurances that he would
not be jailed.

"If William Nessen is really an intelligence agent then the
punishment is serious, but if he is truly a journalist then there
is no problem," Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu was
quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

He added Nessen could face the death penalty if found guilty, the
report said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nessen had
violated his visa by writing for publications other than the
Chronicle -- a common practice among freelancers -- and could be
deported.

Nessen, a 46-year-old New York City native, said he was in
Aceh to report on the latest military offensive to crush the
rebel Free Aceh Movement. More than 200 people have died in the
fighting since the operation began May 19.

He said he was there to gather information for a book and
documentary on Aceh. He said he hasn't published stories or
photographs on the conflict for some time because he lost his
laptop and other possessions.

A search of news databases showed he last reported for the
Chronicle in December and his last story for another client, the
Sydney Morning Herald, was in January.

This has led to speculation in Indonesian newspapers and
comments by Indonesia's military that Nessen is not a real
reporter and is with the rebels in Aceh for other reasons. -- AP