[Marinir] Aceh War Journalist William Nessen Tours Aotearoa

[Hong Gie]

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Aceh War Journalist William Nessen tours Aotearoa
Monday, 17 November 2003, 9:09 am
Press Release: Indonesian Human Rights Network

Journalist William Nessen tours Aotearoa and speaks of his time 'behind the
lines' in the midst of the war in Aceh
William Nessen has a unique perspective on Indonesia's latest war on Aceh.
He lived on the run with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) guerrillas for 6
dangerous weeks, after the declaration of martial law on May 19, 2003.
Determined to report all sides, Nessen defied the military's command to stop
reporting from the GAM zones.
William will tour Aotearoa from November 24 to December 3 speaking at
meetings in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Whangarei. In Auckland he
will address a public meeting and show slides and video footage on Tuesday
November 25 2003 ; 7-30pm St Columba Centre 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby.
Wellington Wednesday November 26 Turnbull House, Bowen St  and
Christchurch Friday 28th November, 7.30 pm, Trade Union Centre, 199
Armagh Street.
A freelance journalist, William Nessen has reported on Aceh many times
before but on this occasion he narrowly escaped with his life. The unit he
was with barely managed to slip a cordon of Indonesian troops. William also
risked facing espionage charges and lengthy incarceration. After intense
international lobbying on his behalf William was charged with immigration
irregularities and was detained for 40 days in Aceh's capital Banda Aceh.
"To understand Aceh think of East Timor" * Ongoing military brutality and
lack of Acehnese control over the region's rich natural resources, have
fuelled a widespread desire for independence from Indonesia. Foreigners,
whether journalists or aid workers, are only able to visit Aceh under tight
restrictions. In 6 months of war hundreds of civilians have been killed and
tens of thousands have been displaced, as the military seeks to separate
GAM from the village communities.
Last December a Cessation of Hostilities was successfully concluded, and
ongoing negotiations under the mediation of the Henri Dunant Centre were
widely supported by the international community. But Indonesia abruptly
ended its participation and arrested several of the negotiators. There has
been only a muted response from western governments including New
Zealand.

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