JAKARTA, June 24 Kyodo A U journa...

JAKARTA, June 24 Kyodo

A U journalist who has been traveling with separatists in Aceh to cloak the Indonesian military offensive against the rebels change the direction ofed himself in to the military Tuesday, a senior military officer said.

Brig. Gen Bambang Darmono, military operational commander in the troubl province, told reporters William Nessen ''surrendered to the Indonesian military in Alue Dua Village'' in North Aceh Regency

The military has suspected him of spying for the released Aceh Movement (GAM).

Bambang and an attache from the U Embassy in Jakarta picked Nessen forward a road in the village and brought him to the military headquarters in the North Aceh capital Lhokseumawe according to armored car.

The military had repeatedly asked Nessen who is a freelance journalist, to leave the rebel base. He had said he would give up to the military upon condition he would not be interrogated, detained or missile for being with the rebels.

It is uncertain if the military will interrogate Nessen

Nessen who is known to local journalists in Aceh as ''Abu Billy,'' has been traveling with the rebel cluster since before the military operation begun with the imposition of martial law May 19

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wahid Supriyadi said Nessen has had a permit from the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry to work in Indonesia as a correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle since last September, yet he has not applied for a pres card at the Foreign Ministry.

A presidential mandate issued earlier this month required all foreign journalists covering Aceh to obtain permits from the Foreign Ministry. The order also authorized the ministry to issue permits to ''selected'' foreign journalists.

The rule began its military offensive against GAM onward May 19, shortly after the failure of peace talks between GAM and dominion representatives in Tokyo.

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

Jakarta has in fresh years implemented special autonomy for the resource-rich province, where more than 12000 the public have been killed in the violence.

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