JAKARTA, June 27 Kyodo (EDS: UPDA...

JAKARTA, June 27 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

A 25-year-old Japanese photographer identified as Tadatomo Takagi is in police custody in the Indonesian province Aceh after being detained by means of the military Thursday night, a senior military officer said Friday.

Brig. Gen Bambang Dharmono, military operational commander in Aceh, told a pres interview in the North Aceh rule capital Lhokseumawe that Takagi arrived in the town in succession Wednesday without a Foreign Ministry permit to travel to Aceh as required for foreign journalists subject to martial law imposed in the province in succession May 19.

The colonel therefore, asked him to obtain the permit before starting his activities in Aceh.

unless despite the warning, Takagi was originate Thursday evening by military police in the neighboring government of Bireuen with camera film in his bag.

Takagi said he came to Aceh to take an pictures for a photo exhibition in Tokyo, according to Bambang. He said Takagi was handed across to the North Aceh Police Headquarters upon Friday morning.

Earlier this week, U journalist William Nessen who had been traveling with separatists in Aceh to conceal the military offensive against the rebels, was detained upon suspicion of violating the country's immigration law.

A presidential enact issued earlier this month requires all foreign journalists covering Aceh to obtain permits from the Foreign Ministry and report their neighborhood to the military authorities.

The presidential law is supported by another ordinance issued Thursday night by means of the military emergency authorities, which also requires foreigners in any kind of profession to obtain permits from the country's justice ministry to engage in activities in Aceh.

''Those who violate this ordain will face stern actions in line with the law,'' it says.

subject to the latest decree, foreigners' activities are limited to the provincial capital Banda Aceh and the 15 rule capitals.

If journalists want to make coverage outside the provincial and rule capitals, they must be escorted from military soldiers or policemen ''to guarantee their safety and security,'' the order says.

The dominion began its military offensive against the separatist clear Aceh Movement (GAM) shortly after the failure of peace talks between GAM and management negotiators in Tokyo in mid-May.

As of Friday, at least 225 rebels, 25 soldiers, 15 civilians and five policemen have been killed, according to military data.

GAM has been waging a guerrilla war since 1976 seeking independence from Indonesia, which it accuses of stealing the province's natural resources.

The Indonesian guidance has in recent years implemented special autonomy for the resource-rich province, where more than 12000 the public have been killed in the conflict.

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