The Indonesian military is widely known for brutality in East Timor. Obviously they do not want outside observers in Aceh, and Nessen
is the last international journalist in the war zone. Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya, the head of the martial law administration in Aceh, has made
threatening comments, refused to promise Nessen safe passage, and insisted he ?give himself up<sum>.

We believe Billy?s life is in great danger. The number of Aceh citizens killed is unknown, but two German tourists have been shot by the
military,and on June 17th an Indonesian TV camerman was found dead in Aceh, his hands
tied and his eyes and mouth taped shut.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, faculty and staff at the Columbia School of Journalism (Nessen?s alma mater), the San Francisco Local of
the National Writers Union, Media Alliance, and Billy?s friends and family are all working to get him home safely.

NESSEN?S LIFE IS AT STAKE. PLEASE FAX TWO LETTERS TODAY TO:

US Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce. Fax: 011-6221-3435-9922

Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S. Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat. Fax:
202-775-5365

For more information, Google Billy Nessen, contact the Committee to
Protect
Journalists at the site below, or email scottb [at] igc.org.

************************************************

SAMPLE LETTER:

DATE:
TO:

Sir: I am aware that US journalist Billy Nessen is in great danger in
Aceh
province, Indonesia.

It is the international right of journalists to travel freely and
interview
who they choose in the course of their work.

It is the responsibility of the US and Indonesian governments to uphold
these rights.

I demand that a ranking member of the US embassy travel to Aceh
province and
escort Billy Nessen out of the fighting and that the Indonesian
government
allow Nessen to leave the country without injury, arrest, or
interrogation.

Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Title if pertinent

************************************************

BACKGROUND______

From the Committee to Protect Journalist, NYNY

INDONESIA: American journalist in danger in Aceh

June 10, 2003

TO: Her Excellency Megawati Sukarnoputri
President, Republic of Indonesia
Office of the President
Bina Graha, Jalan Veteran No. 1
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia

Your Excellency:

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the safety of American free-lance journalist William Nessen, who is
currently 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.

Nessen has been covering the insurgency in Aceh for years and is known for having rare access to rebels with the Free Aceh Movement, known by its
Indonesian acronym as GAM. A free-lance reporter and photographer, he has contributed to such publications as The Boston Globe, The Sydney
Morning Herald, and the British newspaper The Independent.

Nessen last spoke to his wife, Shadia Marhaban, at about 5:30 p.m.,local time, using a satellite phone. During this conversation, he said that
when he attempted to surrender to government soldiers, troops opened fire, forcing him to flee with the rebels for safety. "I could hear gunfire, and then the line went dead," Marhaban told CPJ.

Yesterday, Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya, the head of the martial law administration in Aceh, told a press conference that he was aware that
an American journalist was trapped in rebel-held territory. However, Suwarya added that it was up to the reporter to extract himself from danger as, "We cannot guarantee the safety of foreign journalists in Aceh," according to The Associated Press and the regional daily Serambi Indonesia.

After the military offensive was launched on May 19, Suwarya stated that he would no longer allow the views of GAM to be reported by the media.
Indonesian authorities have said repeatedly that Suwarya has the sole discretion to control the media in Aceh. Authorities also have announced
their intention to ban all foreign journalists from reporting in Aceh, an order that has yet to go into effect.

Diplomatic sources told CPJ that Nessen appears to be "in a great deal of danger" and that efforts are underway to secure his safe departure from the province. Marhaban and others have sought assistance for Nessen from the United States Embassy in Jakarta. The Indonesian government has offered no assurances yet about his safety.

Nessen has press accreditation issued by the Indonesian government, according to Marhaban and colleagues who have seen the credentials.
But Indonesian Information Ministry official Wahid Supriyadi denied that Nessen was an accredited journalist. "As far as we are concerned he is a tourist, and he has no right to be there," Supriyadi told CPJ.

Last week, soldiers in Aceh shot two German tourists, one of whom was killed. An official inquiry into that incident is underway.

As an organization dedicated to the protection of our colleagues worldwide, CPJ calls on the Your Excellency to ensure that the Indonesian military
guarantees Nessen's safety and acts immediately to allow him safe passage out of Aceh. The Indonesian government has a responsibility to ensure that civilians, including journalists, are not harmed during military operations.

We thank you for your attention to these urgent matters and await your response.

Sincerely,

Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director

© 2003 Committee to Protect Journalists. http://www.cpj.org
E-mail: info [at] cpj.org <mailto:info [at] cpj.org>