Nessen renews his intention to leave Aceh unhindered
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
American freelance journalist William Nessen, who is currently covering the war in Aceh from the rebel side, has reiterated his intention to leave Aceh peacefully without being stopped by the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Although he failed to heed the 6 p.m. Saturday deadline set by the military for him to leave the rebel base, Nessen said that he would not surrender to the TNI, fearing that he would be interrogated and detained for being with the rebels.
"I don't intend to give myself to TNI. I don't want to be stopped or interrogated. What I want is a safe passage out of Aceh, out of Indonesia," he told The Jakarta Post via telephone.
Nessen called on the U.S. Embassy or an independent organization to send their envoys to pick him up from an agreed upon location in Aceh.
He also clarified that he never claimed to be a journalist from the Post, even during his conversation with Aceh military operation commander Brig. Gen. Bambang Darmono.
He said that before he called Bambang, he spoke with a reporter from the Post. However, when he called Bambang, he mistakenly identified Bambang as a reporter from the Post, and therefore he asked, "Jakarta Post?"
After getting a response that Bambang was on the other end, Nessen then said, "Hello Jenderal. Ini William." (Hello General, this is William).
He said he knew Bambang well as they spent hours together in Aceh before.
During the conversation, Nessen spelled out conditions, asking that the authorities of the Aceh military operation not arrest, interrogate or shoot him should he surrender to the military.
Bambang said he would not meet the requests but ensured that "the TNI would not shoot him" if he came out from hiding.
Nessen's fate was discussed during a meeting between Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce and Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Imura.
Lt. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, secretary to Bambang Susilo, said that Boyce "doesn't mind should the military authority in Aceh interrogate him (Nessen)" as long as the questioning brings no legal consequences.
Sudi said that the government had agreed not to interrogate Nessen for a legal case.
"But indeed we will ask for some clarification from Nessen because he has been traveling with GAM rebels," Sudi asserted, referring to the Free Aceh Movement.
The meeting itself focused on the humanitarian operation to help civilians affected by the war in Aceh.
Meanwhile, veteran journalist Atmakusumah Astraatmadja said that the military's plan to interrogate Nessen was against the principles of press freedom and code of ethics as journalists are granted the freedom to protect their sources.
Speaking in an interview with private radio station 68H on Monday, Atmakusumah, also the chairman of Press Council, warned of possible protests from various press associations, both domestic and international, against the TNI's policy.
He said that the interrogation "would be counterproductive for the military, which is currently trying to improve its image after launching the military operation in Aceh province."