Indonesia / Asia

  

U.S. journalist to face trial on immigration charges

New York, July 18, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the decision by Indonesian authorities to prosecute free-lance journalist William Nessen, a U.S. citizen who was arrested on June 24 after spending weeks reporting from rebel-held territory in war-torn Aceh Province. Aceh state prosecutor Tengku Lutfi told journalists today that Nessen has been charged…

Read More ›

Special Report: Aceh

Borrowing a page from the U.S. playbook, the Indonesian military is restricting and controlling coverage of their war in the restive province of Aceh.

Read More ›

CPJ condemns assault on radio reporter

“Press conditions in Aceh are going from bad to worse.” New York, July 7, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the recent assault on radio reporter Alif Imam Nurlambang by Indonesian security officers in the northwestern province of Aceh, where a massive Indonesian military offensive is under way to crush a long-running separatist insurgency.…

Read More ›

CPJ concerned about journalists missing in Aceh

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the safety of journalists Ersa Siregar and Ferry Santoro, who went missing over the weekend while reporting on the conflict in the northwestern province of Aceh for the private Indonesian television channel RCTI.

Read More ›

Japanese photographer deported

New York, June 30, 2003—Japanese photographer Takagi Tadatomo was released and deported from Indonesia’s war-torn Aceh Province on Sunday, June 29, after being held for two days. The 25-year-old photographer left Medan, the capital of neighboring North Sumatra Province, on a morning flight to Singapore. Indonesian military authorities in northern Aceh detained Tadatomo last Thursday,…

Read More ›

CPJ protests media restrictions

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned by the continuing efforts by Indonesian authorities to sharply restrict reporting by journalists attempting to cover the military operations in the restive Indonesian province of Aceh. The latest evidence of such efforts is the series of restrictive new rules, announced yesterday, which will prohibit independent reporting from the region.

Read More ›

U.S. JOURNALIST DETAINED FOR VIOLATING IMMIGRATION LAWS

Bangkok, June 25, 2003—Indonesian police have formally detained American free-lance journalist William Nessen after two days of questioning in the troubled province of Aceh and charged him with violating two sections of Indonesia’s immigration law. Nessen, who voluntarily turned himself over to military authorities on Tuesday, June 24, after spending several weeks with separatist rebels…

Read More ›

U.S. Journalist turns himself over to military

Bangkok, June 24, 2003—American free-lance journalist William Nessen turned himself over to Indonesian military authorities in the strife torn province of Aceh this morning, ending several days of tense negotiations. For several weeks, Nessen, 46, had been traveling with the separatist Free Aceh Movement, known by its Indonesian acronym as GAM. Indonesian military authorities had…

Read More ›

Missing cameraman’s body found in Aceh

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply saddened by the death of our colleague Mohamad Jamal, a cameraman for the Indonesian government-run television station TVRI. We urge Your Excellency to order a thorough and impartial inquiry into his murder.

Read More ›

American journalist in danger in Aceh

Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the safety of American free-lance journalist William Nessen, who is traveling with separatist rebels in the restive Indonesian province of Aceh, where a massive military campaign is underway. The group Nessen is with has come under direct attack from Indonesian government soldiers, and his life is currently at great risk.

Read More ›