Nessen renews his intention to leave Aceh unhindered
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."