Australian academic clarifies

Australian academic clarifies

In your article about my recent difficulties entering
IndonesiaAustralian academic barred entry to RI, March 4, your
journalist cites an anonymous source alleging that I had worked
as an advisor to a Free Aceh Movement (GAM) activist in Canberra.

A similar allegation was repeated in your newspaper on March
5. This allegation is completely false. I have not worked as an
advisor to anyone, much less GAM. As an academic I have always
tried to maintain strict standards of scholarly neutrality and
objectivity in my writing on Aceh, as on other aspects of
contemporary Indonesia.

I am currently seeking clarification on the reason for my ban
from the Indonesian embassy in Canberra. I hope that the reason
is a misunderstanding that may quickly be rectified. In the
meantime, I would appreciate it if your journalists would contact
me when writing articles about my circumstances and especially
before they repeat falsehoods from anonymous sources. As you are
aware, once falsehoods appear in print, they sometimes become
difficult for individuals to disprove.

EDWARD ASPINALL, Sydney, Australia