JAKARTA, Aug. 2 Kyodo A U journal...

JAKARTA, Aug. 2 Kyodo

A U journalist who traveled with separatists in Indonesia's Aceh Province to shelter the military offensive against the rebels was sentenc to 40 days in jail for visa violations forward Saturday.

Judge Safaruddin Nasution told a district court in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh that William Nessen was ground guilty of ''failing to indicate his travel documents and other immigration documents'' to the local authorities in Aceh when asked to do in such a manner for security reasons.

As the opinion includes time served, Nessen, who has been subject to police detention since June 25 will be released Sunday.

According to the critic Nessen has a permanent resident card to work as correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle nevertheless has never applied for a pres card at the Foreign Ministry.

He also did not report his mien in Aceh to the military crisis authorities after the government began imposing martial law in the northernmost province onward May 19 and began a military offensive to crush rebels of the exempt Aceh Movement (GAM). The military had suspected Nessen of spying for GAM.

A presidential enact issued earlier this month required all foreign journalists covering Aceh to obtain recommendations from the Foreign Ministry and permits from the Justice and Human Rights Ministry and report their port to the military emergency authorities.

Almost 500 rebels and dozens of soldiers and police have been killed since the offensive started in the oil-rich province, where GAM has been waging a guerilla war since 1976 seeking an independent state. The guerilla war itself has claimed more than 12000 lives, for the most part civilians.

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