Police seek to link Nessen with GAM

Police seek to link Nessen with GAM

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

The martial law administration in Aceh has begun questioning
American freelance journalist William Nessen over his links with
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels.

The Banda Aceh Police questioned Nessen on Friday over his
relationship with various GAM members, said police spokesman Adj.
Sr. Comr. Sayed Husaini.

"The questions were related to his ties with GAM and Irwandi,
an alleged GAM publicist," he told reporters in his office.

Sayed was referring to Irwandi Yusuf, a former lecturer with
the state Syiah Kuala University in the Aceh capital of Banda
Aceh, who was arrested last month in Cipinang, East Jakarta.
Police said that they found several press releases promoting GAM
in Irwandi's house, which reportedly belonged to Nessen.

Nessen is married to an Acehnese named Sadiah Marhaban and
stays in the Kebon Nanas area in East Jakarta, which is close to
Cipinang.

The police insisted that they detained Nessen for a visa
violation, despite the fact that they have begun to question his
possible involvement with GAM rebels. He faces a maximum five-
year prison term for the visa violation.

"Nessen brought nothing that could be considered evidence. He
claimed he had lost his camera and passport which contained his
visa during a clash between GAM and TNI," Sayed said.

He said Nessen could be deported if the government issued the
order.

"Everything is in the hands of the government. We will
continue questioning him in accordance with his detention order
for 20 days," Sayed said.

Nessen, who had been traveling with GAM before the military
operations began on May 19, surrendered to the military on
Tuesday. He has been detained since then.

The 47-year-old Nessen was accompanied by his lawyers,
including Amir Syamsuddin, during questioning.

He was earlier taken to Zainal Abidin General Hospital in
Banda Aceh as he complained of kidney problems. However, the
doctors discharged him.

"He complained about pain in his ribs but his laboratory
results will only be available after two days. There is a
defect," Dr. Rusmunandar, the hospital director, told The Jakarta
Post, without elaborating.

Responding to Nessen's questioning, U.S. Ambassador to
Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce said there had been no use of force,
neither from the police nor the military, during his questioning.

"There was no pressure as we are good friends," he told
reporters after a meeting with Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in
Jakarta.