German freed after night in detention

INDONESIA: The Indonesian Military (TNI) released on Saturday a German freelance journalist who had been detained overnight.

Cradow Cascha, 35, was arrested after he entered the troubled province of Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam without proper immigration documents, said Lt. Col. Asep Sapari, the spokesman of the TNI's Operation Command in Aceh.

Cascha was detained after the car he was in became trapped in a landslide in Blang Kejeren, Gayo Luwes district, in southeast Aceh on Friday afternoon. Local residents reported the journalist to the nearest TNI post, and soldiers then detained Cascha for questioning.

After martial law was declared in Aceh last May, foreigners were barred from entering the province without a special license issued by the government.

"He claimed that he visited Aceh to see Lake Laut Tawar. But, he was not allowed to be here because he does not possess the proper documents," Asep said.

He said that Cascha, who asserted he was working for the International Associated Press in London, had been ordered to Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, on Saturday morning.

"We have faith (he will leave Aceh), but we will take stern action if he returns to Aceh without proper documents," Asep said. -- JP