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Journalist Jailed in Indonesia: Free Billy Nessen!
From the Bay Guardian at http://sfbg.com
Free Billy Nessen
BILLY NESSEN, a freelance writer who lived for many years in Berkeley and who has made something of a career out of reporting from international trouble spots, is sitting in an Indonesian jail in Aceh, facing potential charges that could leave him behind bars for the rest of his life. Nessen's crime: he spent some time with the rebels who are fighting a guerrilla war against the Indonesian government. As Cervando David Martinez reports on page 12, Nessen was doing what good journalists are supposed to do: he went where he had to go to get the real story. Martinez, who has worked with Nessen on documentary film projects, suspects the Indonesian military wants to send journalists around the world a message that telling the truth about what's happening in its country is a very bad idea.
Nessen is hardly the only journalist jailed (or killed) recently: as Bruce Brugmann notes on page 4, the Inter-American Press Association reports that 272 journalists have been murdered in North and South America alone since 1998. And that's probably a low number – not every death gets reported to watchdog groups. (Indonesian journalists, for example, die mysteriously or disappear on a regular basis.) Groups like IAPA and the Committee to Protect Journalists fight an endless and often frustrating battle for press freedom.
In many cases, the key is public pressure – and that, activists say, is what's likely to save Nessen. Here are the key pressure points; call or fax today.
U.S. ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce fax 011-6221-386-2259.
Indonesian embassy (202) 775-5200, fax (202) 775-5365.
Indonesian ambassador to the United States Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat e-mail karta [at] embassyofindonesia.org.
BILLY NESSEN, a freelance writer who lived for many years in Berkeley and who has made something of a career out of reporting from international trouble spots, is sitting in an Indonesian jail in Aceh, facing potential charges that could leave him behind bars for the rest of his life. Nessen's crime: he spent some time with the rebels who are fighting a guerrilla war against the Indonesian government. As Cervando David Martinez reports on page 12, Nessen was doing what good journalists are supposed to do: he went where he had to go to get the real story. Martinez, who has worked with Nessen on documentary film projects, suspects the Indonesian military wants to send journalists around the world a message that telling the truth about what's happening in its country is a very bad idea.
Nessen is hardly the only journalist jailed (or killed) recently: as Bruce Brugmann notes on page 4, the Inter-American Press Association reports that 272 journalists have been murdered in North and South America alone since 1998. And that's probably a low number – not every death gets reported to watchdog groups. (Indonesian journalists, for example, die mysteriously or disappear on a regular basis.) Groups like IAPA and the Committee to Protect Journalists fight an endless and often frustrating battle for press freedom.
In many cases, the key is public pressure – and that, activists say, is what's likely to save Nessen. Here are the key pressure points; call or fax today.
U.S. ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce fax 011-6221-386-2259.
Indonesian embassy (202) 775-5200, fax (202) 775-5365.
Indonesian ambassador to the United States Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat e-mail karta [at] embassyofindonesia.org.
For more information:
http://www.sfbg.com/37/41/news_ed_freeness...
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US freelance journalist William (Billy) Nessen will go on trial on July 23 in Aceh, Indonesia. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted of minor visa violations. Nessen's crime: losing his visa and passport while trying to escape a combatant zone under heavy fire, and for reporting from both sides of the conflict.
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has posted four letters found at the site-link below. For convenience, I have pasted the full text below. Please join the latest round of letter writing to keep the pressure up on both the US and Indonesian governments.
A delegation of journalists, lawyers, and friends of Nessen's met with Vice-Consular Krishna Hannan at the Indonesian Embassey in San Francisco on July 3, 2003. At this meeting, Hannan stated with bewildered amazement: "The pressure (to release Nessen) is felt...most definitely! Here (SF-embassey), in DC, and at the U.N."
Again, thank you for your attention and good work on Nessen's behalf. The pressure is mounting. Please join the latest round of appeals, and continue to pass along to your friends and colleagues.
CPJ is asking writers to cc: appeal letters to them. For further information, contact Asia Program Coordinator Kavita Menon, Research Assistant Alexis Arieff or Research Associate Sophie Beach at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: asia [at] cpj.org, kmenon [at] cpj.org, aarieff [at] cpj.org, Internet: http://www.cpj.org/
For clarity, please, remember to limit your remarks to: Nessen's status as a credentialled, accredited US journalist reporting on civil strife in Aceh for the San Francisco Chronicle; the continued fight for human rights, press freedoms in Indonesia; and Nessen's immediate release. Thank you.
http://www.spj.org/spj_programs_intjourn.asp
---------
Her Excellency Megawati Sukarnoputri
President, Republic of Indonesia
Office of the President
Bina Graha, Jalan Veteran No. 1
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Fax: 011-6221-526-8726
or c/o Permanent Representative to UN
E-mail: indonesia [at] un.int
Your excellency:
I am writing to you on behalf of my colleague William Nessen, a fellow journalists who, through no fault of his own, is currently imprisoned by your government. William Nessen is a serious, dedicated journalist who should not be punished for doing his job in a difficult situation.
Mr. Nessen has written articles about Indonesia for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, the Independent in the U.K., and other newspapers. He is currently being held by the police in Banda Aceh, the capital city of the Aceh province, in the northern tip
of Sumatra.
In addition, I join the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) the Committee to Protect Journalists and other professional organizations in requesting that your government ease its restrictions on journalists
in the Aceh region.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Affiliation
--------
Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat
Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S.
2020 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Fax: 202-775-5365
Email: dithenb [at] dfa-deplu.go.id
Mr. Ambassador:
I am writing to you on behalf of my colleague William Nessen, a fellow journalists who, through no fault of his own, is currently imprisoned by your government.
William Nessen is a serious, dedicated journalist who should not be punished for doing his job in a difficult situation.
Mr. Nessen has written articles about Indonesia for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, the Independent in the U.K., and other newspapers. He is
currently being held by the police in Banda Aceh, the capital city of the Aceh province, in the northern tip of Sumatra.
In addition, I join the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) the Committee to Protect Journalists and
other professional organizations in requesting that your government ease its restrictions on journalists in the Aceh region.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Affiliation
--------
Ralph Boyce
US Ambassador to Indonesia
Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 5
Jakarta Pusat 10110
Fax: 011-6221-3435-9922
Email: irc [at] usembassyjakarta.org or
jakconsul [at] state.gov
Mr. Ambassador:
I am writing to urge you, as the American ambassador to Indonesia, to ensure the immediate release of American freelance journalist William Nessen from his
imprisonment in Banda, Aceh.
The situation in Aceh has gone from bad to worse and the offenses against journalists as well as the restrictions on media coverage of the separatist Free Aceh Movement need to be eased.
William Nessen is a serious, dedicated journalist who should not be punished for doing his job in a difficult situation. I join his family, friends, and colleagues in asking you to do all in your power to work for his release.
Mr. Nessen has written articles about Indonesia for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, the Independent in the U.K., and other newspapers. He is
currently being held by the authorities in Banda Aceh, the capital city of the Aceh province, in the northern tip of Sumatra.
In addition, I join the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) the Committee to Protect Journalists and other professional organizations in requesting that you urge the Indonesian government to ease its restrictions on journalists in the Aceh region.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Affiliation
----------
Senator Richard Lugar
306 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1401
Phone: 202-224-4814
Fax: 202-228-0360
Email: senator_lugar [at] lugar.senate.gov
Mr. Senator:
I am writing to urge you, as a United States Senator, to ensure the immediate release of American freelance journalist William Nessen from his imprisonment in Banda, Aceh.
The situation in Aceh has gone from bad to worse and the offenses against journalists as well as the restrictions on media coverage of the separatist Free Aceh Movement need to be eased.
William Nessen is a serious, dedicated journalist who should not be punished for doing his job in a difficult situation. I join his family, friends, and colleagues in asking you to do all in your power to work for his release.
Mr. Nessen has written articles about Indonesia for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, the Independent in the U.K., and other newspapers. He is
currently being held by the authorities in Banda Aceh, the capital city of the Aceh province, in the northern tip of Sumatra.
In addition, I join the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) the Committee to Protect Journalists and
other professional organizations in requesting that you urge the Indonesian government to ease its restrictions on journalists in the Aceh region.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Affiliation
---------
other links:
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/52447/?PHPSESSID=078d555b4ecc7790e2c15efd96a16347
http://www.spj.org/spj_programs_intjourn.asp
http://www.cpj.org/news/2003/Indonesia18july03na.html
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has posted four letters found at the site-link below. For convenience, I have pasted the full text below. Please join the latest round of letter writing to keep the pressure up on both the US and Indonesian governments.
A delegation of journalists, lawyers, and friends of Nessen's met with Vice-Consular Krishna Hannan at the Indonesian Embassey in San Francisco on July 3, 2003. At this meeting, Hannan stated with bewildered amazement: "The pressure (to release Nessen) is felt...most definitely! Here (SF-embassey), in DC, and at the U.N."
Again, thank you for your attention and good work on Nessen's behalf. The pressure is mounting. Please join the latest round of appeals, and continue to pass along to your friends and colleagues.
CPJ is asking writers to cc: appeal letters to them. For further information, contact Asia Program Coordinator Kavita Menon, Research Assistant Alexis Arieff or Research Associate Sophie Beach at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: asia [at] cpj.org, kmenon [at] cpj.org, aarieff [at] cpj.org, Internet: http://www.cpj.org/
For clarity, please, remember to limit your remarks to: Nessen's status as a credentialled, accredited US journalist reporting on civil strife in Aceh for the San Francisco Chronicle; the continued fight for human rights, press freedoms in Indonesia; and Nessen's immediate release. Thank you.
http://www.spj.org/spj_programs_intjourn.asp
---------
Her Excellency Megawati Sukarnoputri
President, Republic of Indonesia
Office of the President
Bina Graha, Jalan Veteran No. 1
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Fax: 011-6221-526-8726
or c/o Permanent Representative to UN
E-mail: indonesia [at] un.int
Your excellency:
I am writing to you on behalf of my colleague William Nessen, a fellow journalists who, through no fault of his own, is currently imprisoned by your government. William Nessen is a serious, dedicated journalist who should not be punished for doing his job in a difficult situation.
Mr. Nessen has written articles about Indonesia for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, the Independent in the U.K., and other newspapers. He is currently being held by the police in Banda Aceh, the capital city of the Aceh province, in the northern tip
of Sumatra.
In addition, I join the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) the Committee to Protect Journalists and other professional organizations in requesting that your government ease its restrictions on journalists
in the Aceh region.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Affiliation
--------
Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat
Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S.
2020 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Fax: 202-775-5365
Email: dithenb [at] dfa-deplu.go.id
Mr. Ambassador:
I am writing to you on behalf of my colleague William Nessen, a fellow journalists who, through no fault of his own, is currently imprisoned by your government.
William Nessen is a serious, dedicated journalist who should not be punished for doing his job in a difficult situation.
Mr. Nessen has written articles about Indonesia for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, the Independent in the U.K., and other newspapers. He is
currently being held by the police in Banda Aceh, the capital city of the Aceh province, in the northern tip of Sumatra.
In addition, I join the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) the Committee to Protect Journalists and
other professional organizations in requesting that your government ease its restrictions on journalists in the Aceh region.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Affiliation
--------
Ralph Boyce
US Ambassador to Indonesia
Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 5
Jakarta Pusat 10110
Fax: 011-6221-3435-9922
Email: irc [at] usembassyjakarta.org or
jakconsul [at] state.gov
Mr. Ambassador:
I am writing to urge you, as the American ambassador to Indonesia, to ensure the immediate release of American freelance journalist William Nessen from his
imprisonment in Banda, Aceh.
The situation in Aceh has gone from bad to worse and the offenses against journalists as well as the restrictions on media coverage of the separatist Free Aceh Movement need to be eased.
William Nessen is a serious, dedicated journalist who should not be punished for doing his job in a difficult situation. I join his family, friends, and colleagues in asking you to do all in your power to work for his release.
Mr. Nessen has written articles about Indonesia for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, the Independent in the U.K., and other newspapers. He is
currently being held by the authorities in Banda Aceh, the capital city of the Aceh province, in the northern tip of Sumatra.
In addition, I join the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) the Committee to Protect Journalists and other professional organizations in requesting that you urge the Indonesian government to ease its restrictions on journalists in the Aceh region.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Affiliation
----------
Senator Richard Lugar
306 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1401
Phone: 202-224-4814
Fax: 202-228-0360
Email: senator_lugar [at] lugar.senate.gov
Mr. Senator:
I am writing to urge you, as a United States Senator, to ensure the immediate release of American freelance journalist William Nessen from his imprisonment in Banda, Aceh.
The situation in Aceh has gone from bad to worse and the offenses against journalists as well as the restrictions on media coverage of the separatist Free Aceh Movement need to be eased.
William Nessen is a serious, dedicated journalist who should not be punished for doing his job in a difficult situation. I join his family, friends, and colleagues in asking you to do all in your power to work for his release.
Mr. Nessen has written articles about Indonesia for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, the Independent in the U.K., and other newspapers. He is
currently being held by the authorities in Banda Aceh, the capital city of the Aceh province, in the northern tip of Sumatra.
In addition, I join the Society of Professional Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) the Committee to Protect Journalists and
other professional organizations in requesting that you urge the Indonesian government to ease its restrictions on journalists in the Aceh region.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Affiliation
---------
other links:
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/52447/?PHPSESSID=078d555b4ecc7790e2c15efd96a16347
http://www.spj.org/spj_programs_intjourn.asp
http://www.cpj.org/news/2003/Indonesia18july03na.html
For more information:
http://www.spj.org/spj_programs_intjourn.asp
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