Aceh - In Bed with the Indonesian Army
July 2003 – 30’29”
REPORTER: David O’Shea
02.34 - It's a good day for the Indonesian army. These soldiers have killed 10 rebels from the Acehnese separatist group GAM, in an ambush.
02.34 - As the press arrive, the battle scene is still fresh. The soldiers, who lost two of their own, are still pumped full of adrenaline.
03.12 - SOLDIER (Translation): They came through here and went that way. We ordered them to come out, then got them straight away. I fired with this gun.
03.23 - They accuse these villagers of helping the rebels.
03.36 - SOLDIER (Translation): Who said before there weren't any GAM here? All liars. All the villagers lied. There were a lot of them here.
03.50 - Even before I get to where the 10 bodies lie in state, the first warning is given.
3.57 - SOLDIER (Translation): Reporters, clear out in 10 minutes! Out in 10 minutes.
04.10 - REPORTER (Translation): So they're all GAM?
04.14 - WOMAN (Translation): We don't know.
04.15 - REPORTER (Translation): They're not locals.
04.16 - WOMAN (Translation): Not locals?
04.17 - REPORTER (Translation): Just passing through?
04.18 - WOMAN (Translation): I don't know.
04.24 - REPORTER (Translation): So what's going to happen here now?
04.34 - VILLAGER (Translation): By the TNI. You mean... we're afraid.
04.48 - All the other reporters have left, and I quickly understand why.
4.54 - VILLAGER (Translation): You should hurry.
04.58 - I'm given a not-so subtle reminder that there will be no opportunity to ask questions here. The soldiers want to get on with their interrogation.
05.14 - DRIVER (Translation): They say there are still a lot of GAM around here. So we can't stay too long at this location. We're afraid they may attack again or seek revenge. Because they know many of their men have gone down.
05.40 - After a few years of press freedom following the fall of Suharto, the Indonesian army's offensive in Aceh marks the beginning of a new relationship between military and media.
05.56 - It all begins in Jakarta, at military headquarters. Here, journalists in military fatigues begin four days of training before going to Aceh.
06.05 - MILITARY OFFICER (Translation): Only military rules apply for you from now on.
06.13 - The Indonesian army, or TNI, has clearly learned from the American experience in Iraq, embracing the concept of embedded journalism.
06.25 - MILITARY OFFICER (Translation): If it sounds authoritarian, that's because it is. It is authoritarian.
Because this is the time to be authoritarian, the time for democracy will also come. But on this occasion authoritarianism is right. Do you know what a worm is?
06.51 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Yes, sir.
06.53 - MILITARY OFFICER (Translation): The worm is a soft creature. Just tread on it and it's dead. But the worm can dig through the earth. If you can't get through this four-day training you are no better than a worm.
I will be observing you out in the field. Whether you are descendants of worms of humans.
07.24 - After the get to know your commanding officer session, it's into the back of the truck for the 2-hour ride to Mount Sanggabuana for the four day boot camp.
07.43 - Here they learn what the TNI believe to be the essentials of war reporting. Lesson number one - ambush practice.
07.54 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Was that right or wrong?
07.56 - ARMY TRAINER (Translation): Wrong.
07.59 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Right or wrong?
08.01 - ARMY TRAINER (Translation): The one in front is right.
08.05 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): But he'd be dead if this were real.
08.09 - ARMY TRAINER (Translation): So that you know the right way, we'll do it again. So we'll repeat it.
08.22 - In Baghdad reporters stayed at the Palestine Hotel. In Lhokseumawe, the centre of the military operation in Aceh, it's the Vina Vira.
08.34 - They're crammed in, three to a room. These reporters were in the first group to do the boot camp at Sanggabuana where they were told they must produce patriotic journalism.
08.46 - On arrival in Aceh, they're watched closely and are often reminded of their training.
08.53 - CITRA PRASTUTI: (Translation): Once you're there, the TNI ask “Where’s your commitment to Sanggabuana?" But who made a commitment?
09.00 - They asked you?
09.01 - CITRA PRASTUTI (Translation): Yes.
09.03 - Citra Prastuti is a reporter for the Jakarta radio station, 68H.
09.09 - CITRA PRASTUTI: You want to be a good journalist who covers both sides but on the other hand it's as if we have taken sides with the TNI by being embedded journalists, although it's not so.
09.22 - Bernie Moestafa writes for the English newspaper 'The Jakarta Post'. He says some of what they learned at the boot camp was useful, but the military indoctrination was a little over the top.
09.35 - BERNIE MOESTAFA (Translation): There was an emphasis on nationalism. Like at Sanggabuana, kissing the flag. I think that's an unnecessary display of nationalism.
09. 53 - This is the kind of manufactured event the military want on the nightly news - ordinary Acehnese displaying their undying allegiance to the red and white flag of Indonesia.
10.54 - SOLDIER (Translation): Can you soldiers please help to form orderly lines.
10.16 - CHILD (Translation): My country Indonesia! We will not let you be broken into pieces because of the actions of irresponsible people. Let us unite in our mission to advance the Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam that we love.
11.01 - Locals consuming the nightly news are fed a barrage of military propaganda.
11.10 - MILITARY OFFICER (Translation): The state of emergency is not for the military, but it's a way for us to achieve our objective. The military emergency is for the peace and prosperity of the Acehnese people.
11.24 - A brand new set of strict guidelines for reporting this war has been drafted by the generals running the show.
11.31 - It's now illegal to quote the separatist movement GAM and no journalist is allowed to report anything which may give a negative impression of the war, or a positive impression of the enemy, GAM.
11.43 - For reporters trying to do their job, it's never been more difficult.
11.51 - Newspaper reporter Berthus Manday says the Indonesian people are smart enough to see through the smoke screen.
11.59 - BERTHUS MANDAY (Translation): The Indonesian community will see that the press is restricted. They've heard of restrictions on people entering Aceh. So I believe the thinking community will say “there is something here that they want to hide.”
12.18 - At the military's daily press briefing, I am the only foreigner. There is now an unofficial ban on foreign reporters travelling to Aceh.
12.28 - But there was an American journalist already there and he'd become a real headache for the military spokesman Colonel Ditya.
12.35 - COLONEL DITYA, MILITARY SPOKESMAN (Translation): All of you need to be aware that he had no permission whatsoever from us.
12.51 - Before the military operation began, and press restrictions were imposed, American freelance photo journalist William Nesson travelled to GAM territory to report the war from their side.
13.03 - The TNI have not tried to conceal their contempt for the whole idea of being embedded with the enemy GAM.
13.11 - COLONEL DITYA (Translation): Is he an angelic reporter who supports and assists the military operation, or is he a satanic reporter who assists GAM bandits?
13.34 - Dateline has acquired the photographs of Nesson's time behind rebel lines. These pictures were smuggled out of Aceh and are the only images taken from GAM's side since the war began.
13.50 - The army chief of staff has said that he could be a GAM spy and, if so, would face the death penalty. From his hideout in the hills, Nesson called me to explain himself.
(COLONEL DITYA speaks again)
14.01 - REPORTER: What have you done wrong?
14.06 - WILLIAM NESSEN: I have yet to figure that out. They're just telling me they want to arrest me and interrogate me. I've never heard directly, it's never been said to me directly what I've done wrong.
14.19 - COLONEL DITYA (Translation): We're only giving him a warning that if he wants to get out, go ahead, we'll give him time. But if he doesn't come out our operation will continue. It's Nesson's fault if he gets shot. It's his fault, not ours. That's it. Understood?
14.44 - REPORTER (Translation): Understood.
14.45 - COLONEL DITYA (Translation): Yes.
14.48 - The military gave Nesson 48 hours to surrender, or else. Nesson says he tried to surrender at the beginning of the war but the TNI fired on him and the GAM fighters he was with and he was forced to flee for his life.
15.03 - WILLIAM NESSEN: Well, I don't really want to die, that's the truth. I mean, men on either side of me were shot, OK - dead, dead, OK. Had it been one person in front, I would have been dead. I'm not too happy about that. I've been scared out of my wits. I promised myself the first chance I get, I could get - I would get out.
15.30 - The reality of Nesson's predicament, and all that he had seen over the past weeks, was beginning to take its toll.
15.39 - WILLIAM NESSEN: That night when I thought I was going to die, and we all thought we were going to die, there was a sense that the TNI had closed in on hundreds of people and fighters.
15.55 - We were encircled and the full story I will tell one day on how we got out. It was brilliance on their part, you know. It was based on the people. If the people hadn't given them information within 50m of the TNI, snuck out hundreds of people, OK, but that moment, I mean it's just - I'm not a religious man but that was an experience, beyond...
16.50 - With the pursuit of Nesson making headlines around the world, the army points out there is only one side to this story. Brigadier General Ratyono.
17.00 - BRIGADIER GENERAL RATYONO (Translation): The government has decided GAM is an enemy of the state. So it's not being one sided, it's not considered the other side. It's not another side. They are not for the unitary state of Indonesia.
17.23 - Today the Indonesian journalists and I are off to the area that William is supposed to be hiding in. We've heard that there are daily raids to flush out the rebels.
17.33 - We travel in convoy for our own safety and stop to ask soldiers the way to the action.
17.35 - SOLDIER (Translation): It's not too far to get to but we can't guarantee your safety.
17.45 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): This is not their area, so they can't guarantee our safety. But they've never guaranteed our safety anyway. What's new?
18.02 - For the people of Aceh living through this conflict, acts of terror are commonplace. We've been tipped off about a murder and make a detour to check it out.
18.16JOURNALISTS (Translation): Oh, yes, there. Naked.
18.39 - The dead man's sister arrived as we did and is understandably distraught, as she faces a barrage of questions.
18.51 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Is he married?
18.53 - SISTER (Translation): Him? No. He's only 20.
18.57 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): He's your son?
18.58 - FATHER (Translation): Yes.
18.59 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Your name, sir?
19.00 - FATHER (Translation): Abdul Adam.
19.04 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Just now, at what time? It's 3 now.
19.09 - FATHER (Translation):I just heard now, at 3.
19.15 - The victim's father says four men came in the evening and took his son away.
19.22 - FATHER (Translation): Last night. They were covered up, in military uniforms.
19.27 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Covered up?
19.28 - FATHER (Translation): They had balaclavas on. She was kicked.
19.35 - SISTER (Translation): Here. I was also cut here. I said "Don't, sir. My brother has done nothing wrong. What's happening, sir? Please tell me, sir. Tell me, sir. What did my brother do wrong." They told me to shut up and slapped me.
19.50 - Establishing the language the kidnappers spoke is important. If they spoke Javanese, they would be outsiders and therefore, possibly soldiers.
20.00 - FATHER (Translation): Speaking Indonesian? Indonesian and some other language. They also spoke Javanese.
20.05 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Do they speak Acehnese?
20.08 - FATHER (Translation): No Acehnese.
20.12 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Javanese?
20.13 - SISTER (Translation): Yes, they spoke Javanese too.
20.17 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): They spoke Javanese?
20.19 - SISTER (Translation): No, I can't speak Javanese.
20.20JOURNALISTS (Translation): No, them. Them?
20.22 - SISTER (Translation): Yes. They spoke mostly Javanese.
20.32 - The dead man's brother says he was talking to some soldiers in the morning who told him they'd taken some people away the night before. He now believes that they were talking about his brother.
20.46 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Did he start telling you about the kidnappings? He told you?
20.55 - BROTHER (Translation): Yes, he told me.
20.57 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): You listened to his story?
20.59 - BROTHER (Translation): Yes, I listened.
21.02 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): You were sitting with them?
21.05 - BROTHER (Translation): Yes, At the food store? Yes.
21.07 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): What was his rank? How many stripes were there?
21.09 - BROTHER (Translation): One red stripe.
21.19 - The experience has shaken us all. The villagers' testimony appears to implicate the military. The reporters will have to be careful to tell this story in a way that does not get them thrown out of Aceh.
21.39 -CITRA PRASTUTI (Translation): That does point to one of the groups, but you can't be sure. It needs to be confirmed. It may be too early. Everyone here is emotional.
22.02 - The commander of the 400 soldiers in this area is Colonel Rimbo.
22.08 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): Where? In Seumirah. I haven't heard. Where's Seumirah.
2215 - But the horrendous murder that occurred just down the road from his post is apparently news to him.
22.22 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): Check with Charlie-2. They say one of the locals was tied up.
22.28 - It seems inconceivable that with his men firmly in control, he's heard nothing about the brazen attack.
22.39 -COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): We haven't heard. Hold on a minute, I'll go check.
22.49 - When the colonel comes back, he has all the answers.
22.52 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): The TNI have never worn balaclavas Furthermore, we don't go into the villages at night. In fact, we wait at the edge of the village, in case someone is trying to get into the village.
23.12 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): So you think it was GAM?
23.14 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): It's very likely. That's one of the things we've been told. Because you now know that GAM wear balaclavas. It could very well be them.
Now we'll check it out. If we find any information, we will pass it on.
23.35 - One of the journalists bravely asks whether it couldn't have been the colonel's soldiers who abducted the man.
23.42 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): We don't play by those rules any more when we arrest someone. And we bring them back to their families after it's all sorted.
23.56 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): You don't play by those rules any more. That means before...
24.02 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): That's what I've heard about olden times. I might not have been a soldier then. That was in the past.
24.15 - At breakfast the next day, the memory of the horrific scene is still fresh in everyone's minds. The whole group met last night and, after a long discussion, they reached consensus on who was responsible for the murder. But they know they must be very cautious about naming the perpetrators.
24.35 - CITRA PRASTUTI (Translation): Perhaps from the discussion we all agreed that this pointed to one particular group because there were some tell tale signs. They carried both long and short weapons, they spoke Javanese and no Acehnese whatsoever. That may point to one particular group, but it might not be our place to bring up who has done this, we just lay out all the facts and let the reader or the viewer decide who they think may have done it.
25.16 - REPORTER (Translation): Are you afraid of saying this because of the army?
25.23 - CITRA PRASTUTI (Translation): From my colleagues' experiences I do feel a bit afraid. Especially as we sleep across the road from that one group.
25.37 - We don't have long to dwell on the murder. There is a new lead to focus on, a credible report of a mass grave.
25.44 - REPORTER (Translation): What information? What did you hear? 100 corpses.
25.47 - VILLAGER (Translation): 100 corpses?
25.50 - REPORTER (Translation): Where?
25.53 - VILLAGER (Translation): We don't know the place yet.
26.00 - So we head off again to check it out. When we get to the area, we come across an army investigation unit. They say they've also heard reports of a grave, but their information is that the bodies are victims of GAM rebels. They're about to leave to start digging.
26.25 - The local reporters jump on the tanks, but when I join them, I'm told to get off. The distrust of foreign reporters runs deep here and while I'm around, noone is going anywhere.
26.41 - I disappear for a while and sure enough, when I catch up with them again, they've already finished digging. But it didn't seem a very thorough job to me.
27.01 - REPORTER: What's his name? What's happening?
27.03 - JOURNALIST: Nothing, that's the thing. Nothing. That's the thing.
27.08 - REPORTER: So they didn't find?
27.12 - JOURNALIST: According to them, they didn't see anything. That's why they came back. We don't know.
27.25 - With the military here, it's impossible for these reporters to properly investigate the serious claims of mass graves in this area.
27.39 - A young man the military say is with GAM is presented to us. We're told not to reveal his face.
27.39 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Could you explain again why you joined GAM?
27.52 - MAN (Translation): I was forced to. If not, they threatened to kill my family.
28.00 - He says he has heard of a grave here, somewhere, with the bodies of civilians killed by the rebels although there was something about his answers that seemed odd. I could be wrong, but I had the distinct feeling that this man had been coached in what to say. I was already suspicious because I could see bloodstains on his scarf.
28.21 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Why are you covering your face?
28.24 - MAN (Translation): No reason. It's normal. I don't know.
28.31 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): So he won't be recognised.
28.43 - Once the troops had gone, we head straight for the villagers who had been watching proceedings from their houses. This woman told us the boy the army had showed us was definitely not with the rebels and there was a good reason they wanted to cover his face.
29.00 - WOMAN (Translation): He was arrested, beaten and interrogated. His face was such a mess that many women cried when they saw him.
29.09 - She says the vast majority of people in this area want independence and thousands of them have taken to the hills with GAM.
29.17 - WOMAN (Translation): There's no record of GAM forcing people to join, because everyone wants to join GAM. Even us. There's no need to force them.
29.29 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Why is that?
29.32 - WOMAN (Translation): Because we know that GAM's objective is to fight for our independence. The people no longer want to be part of Indonesia. So if GAM runs away, the villagers also run away. Because when soldiers come they are beaten. They consider us the same.
29.53 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): The community supports them?
29.54 - WOMAN (Translation): Yes, all of us. The entire Acehnese community supports GAM. Even young children are part of GAM.
30.05 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Aren't you afraid, knowing all the threats made to people here? Aren't you and your mother afraid?
30.18 - WOMAN (Translation): We've been living with these threats for many years. We've been threatened for so long, it's now quite normal. We don't care if we live or die. It's up to the Almighty.
30.40 - In the car, leaving the village, we're all a little taken aback by the woman who showed no fear.
30.47 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): I was quite surprised by the woman back there. She had such confidence, such bravery.
31.00 - A few days later, William Nesson surrendered and the commercial TV station SCTV got exclusive rights to cover the event.
31.21 - The other reporters immediately went on strike to protest the obvious favouritism. In the presence of the American defence attache, Nesson was taken off for interrogation. He's now in police custody awaiting a decision on his fate. In the days following his surrender, hundreds of bombs were dropped on the area where he'd been hiding.
31.51 - As the war continues in Aceh, so does the bizarre training for embedded journalists in Java.
32.09 - ARMY TRAINER (Translation): Here's how you catch it. If it's moving, we can grip it and spin it around.
32.19 - But most of these reporters will never even reach the war zone. They work for foreign news organisations, and by the time they are ready to leave, new regulations are in place forbidding them from travelling to Aceh. The war in Aceh is to be cut off from the world's prying eyes.
Reporter/Camera
DAVID O'SHEA
Producer
ALAN HALL
Editors
BEN DEACON
KERRIE-ANN WALLACH
July 2003 – 30’29”
REPORTER: David O’Shea
02.34 - It's a good day for the Indonesian army. These soldiers have killed 10 rebels from the Acehnese separatist group GAM, in an ambush.
02.34 - As the press arrive, the battle scene is still fresh. The soldiers, who lost two of their own, are still pumped full of adrenaline.
03.12 - SOLDIER (Translation): They came through here and went that way. We ordered them to come out, then got them straight away. I fired with this gun.
03.23 - They accuse these villagers of helping the rebels.
03.36 - SOLDIER (Translation): Who said before there weren't any GAM here? All liars. All the villagers lied. There were a lot of them here.
03.50 - Even before I get to where the 10 bodies lie in state, the first warning is given.
3.57 - SOLDIER (Translation): Reporters, clear out in 10 minutes! Out in 10 minutes.
04.10 - REPORTER (Translation): So they're all GAM?
04.14 - WOMAN (Translation): We don't know.
04.15 - REPORTER (Translation): They're not locals.
04.16 - WOMAN (Translation): Not locals?
04.17 - REPORTER (Translation): Just passing through?
04.18 - WOMAN (Translation): I don't know.
04.24 - REPORTER (Translation): So what's going to happen here now?
04.34 - VILLAGER (Translation): By the TNI. You mean... we're afraid.
04.48 - All the other reporters have left, and I quickly understand why.
4.54 - VILLAGER (Translation): You should hurry.
04.58 - I'm given a not-so subtle reminder that there will be no opportunity to ask questions here. The soldiers want to get on with their interrogation.
05.14 - DRIVER (Translation): They say there are still a lot of GAM around here. So we can't stay too long at this location. We're afraid they may attack again or seek revenge. Because they know many of their men have gone down.
05.40 - After a few years of press freedom following the fall of Suharto, the Indonesian army's offensive in Aceh marks the beginning of a new relationship between military and media.
05.56 - It all begins in Jakarta, at military headquarters. Here, journalists in military fatigues begin four days of training before going to Aceh.
06.05 - MILITARY OFFICER (Translation): Only military rules apply for you from now on.
06.13 - The Indonesian army, or TNI, has clearly learned from the American experience in Iraq, embracing the concept of embedded journalism.
06.25 - MILITARY OFFICER (Translation): If it sounds authoritarian, that's because it is. It is authoritarian.
Because this is the time to be authoritarian, the time for democracy will also come. But on this occasion authoritarianism is right. Do you know what a worm is?
06.51 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Yes, sir.
06.53 - MILITARY OFFICER (Translation): The worm is a soft creature. Just tread on it and it's dead. But the worm can dig through the earth. If you can't get through this four-day training you are no better than a worm.
I will be observing you out in the field. Whether you are descendants of worms of humans.
07.24 - After the get to know your commanding officer session, it's into the back of the truck for the 2-hour ride to Mount Sanggabuana for the four day boot camp.
07.43 - Here they learn what the TNI believe to be the essentials of war reporting. Lesson number one - ambush practice.
07.54 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Was that right or wrong?
07.56 - ARMY TRAINER (Translation): Wrong.
07.59 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Right or wrong?
08.01 - ARMY TRAINER (Translation): The one in front is right.
08.05 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): But he'd be dead if this were real.
08.09 - ARMY TRAINER (Translation): So that you know the right way, we'll do it again. So we'll repeat it.
08.22 - In Baghdad reporters stayed at the Palestine Hotel. In Lhokseumawe, the centre of the military operation in Aceh, it's the Vina Vira.
08.34 - They're crammed in, three to a room. These reporters were in the first group to do the boot camp at Sanggabuana where they were told they must produce patriotic journalism.
08.46 - On arrival in Aceh, they're watched closely and are often reminded of their training.
08.53 - CITRA PRASTUTI: (Translation): Once you're there, the TNI ask “Where’s your commitment to Sanggabuana?" But who made a commitment?
09.00 - They asked you?
09.01 - CITRA PRASTUTI (Translation): Yes.
09.03 - Citra Prastuti is a reporter for the Jakarta radio station, 68H.
09.09 - CITRA PRASTUTI: You want to be a good journalist who covers both sides but on the other hand it's as if we have taken sides with the TNI by being embedded journalists, although it's not so.
09.22 - Bernie Moestafa writes for the English newspaper 'The Jakarta Post'. He says some of what they learned at the boot camp was useful, but the military indoctrination was a little over the top.
09.35 - BERNIE MOESTAFA (Translation): There was an emphasis on nationalism. Like at Sanggabuana, kissing the flag. I think that's an unnecessary display of nationalism.
09. 53 - This is the kind of manufactured event the military want on the nightly news - ordinary Acehnese displaying their undying allegiance to the red and white flag of Indonesia.
10.54 - SOLDIER (Translation): Can you soldiers please help to form orderly lines.
10.16 - CHILD (Translation): My country Indonesia! We will not let you be broken into pieces because of the actions of irresponsible people. Let us unite in our mission to advance the Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam that we love.
11.01 - Locals consuming the nightly news are fed a barrage of military propaganda.
11.10 - MILITARY OFFICER (Translation): The state of emergency is not for the military, but it's a way for us to achieve our objective. The military emergency is for the peace and prosperity of the Acehnese people.
11.24 - A brand new set of strict guidelines for reporting this war has been drafted by the generals running the show.
11.31 - It's now illegal to quote the separatist movement GAM and no journalist is allowed to report anything which may give a negative impression of the war, or a positive impression of the enemy, GAM.
11.43 - For reporters trying to do their job, it's never been more difficult.
11.51 - Newspaper reporter Berthus Manday says the Indonesian people are smart enough to see through the smoke screen.
11.59 - BERTHUS MANDAY (Translation): The Indonesian community will see that the press is restricted. They've heard of restrictions on people entering Aceh. So I believe the thinking community will say “there is something here that they want to hide.”
12.18 - At the military's daily press briefing, I am the only foreigner. There is now an unofficial ban on foreign reporters travelling to Aceh.
12.28 - But there was an American journalist already there and he'd become a real headache for the military spokesman Colonel Ditya.
12.35 - COLONEL DITYA, MILITARY SPOKESMAN (Translation): All of you need to be aware that he had no permission whatsoever from us.
12.51 - Before the military operation began, and press restrictions were imposed, American freelance photo journalist William Nesson travelled to GAM territory to report the war from their side.
13.03 - The TNI have not tried to conceal their contempt for the whole idea of being embedded with the enemy GAM.
13.11 - COLONEL DITYA (Translation): Is he an angelic reporter who supports and assists the military operation, or is he a satanic reporter who assists GAM bandits?
13.34 - Dateline has acquired the photographs of Nesson's time behind rebel lines. These pictures were smuggled out of Aceh and are the only images taken from GAM's side since the war began.
13.50 - The army chief of staff has said that he could be a GAM spy and, if so, would face the death penalty. From his hideout in the hills, Nesson called me to explain himself.
(COLONEL DITYA speaks again)
14.01 - REPORTER: What have you done wrong?
14.06 - WILLIAM NESSEN: I have yet to figure that out. They're just telling me they want to arrest me and interrogate me. I've never heard directly, it's never been said to me directly what I've done wrong.
14.19 - COLONEL DITYA (Translation): We're only giving him a warning that if he wants to get out, go ahead, we'll give him time. But if he doesn't come out our operation will continue. It's Nesson's fault if he gets shot. It's his fault, not ours. That's it. Understood?
14.44 - REPORTER (Translation): Understood.
14.45 - COLONEL DITYA (Translation): Yes.
14.48 - The military gave Nesson 48 hours to surrender, or else. Nesson says he tried to surrender at the beginning of the war but the TNI fired on him and the GAM fighters he was with and he was forced to flee for his life.
15.03 - WILLIAM NESSEN: Well, I don't really want to die, that's the truth. I mean, men on either side of me were shot, OK - dead, dead, OK. Had it been one person in front, I would have been dead. I'm not too happy about that. I've been scared out of my wits. I promised myself the first chance I get, I could get - I would get out.
15.30 - The reality of Nesson's predicament, and all that he had seen over the past weeks, was beginning to take its toll.
15.39 - WILLIAM NESSEN: That night when I thought I was going to die, and we all thought we were going to die, there was a sense that the TNI had closed in on hundreds of people and fighters.
15.55 - We were encircled and the full story I will tell one day on how we got out. It was brilliance on their part, you know. It was based on the people. If the people hadn't given them information within 50m of the TNI, snuck out hundreds of people, OK, but that moment, I mean it's just - I'm not a religious man but that was an experience, beyond...
16.50 - With the pursuit of Nesson making headlines around the world, the army points out there is only one side to this story. Brigadier General Ratyono.
17.00 - BRIGADIER GENERAL RATYONO (Translation): The government has decided GAM is an enemy of the state. So it's not being one sided, it's not considered the other side. It's not another side. They are not for the unitary state of Indonesia.
17.23 - Today the Indonesian journalists and I are off to the area that William is supposed to be hiding in. We've heard that there are daily raids to flush out the rebels.
17.33 - We travel in convoy for our own safety and stop to ask soldiers the way to the action.
17.35 - SOLDIER (Translation): It's not too far to get to but we can't guarantee your safety.
17.45 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): This is not their area, so they can't guarantee our safety. But they've never guaranteed our safety anyway. What's new?
18.02 - For the people of Aceh living through this conflict, acts of terror are commonplace. We've been tipped off about a murder and make a detour to check it out.
18.16JOURNALISTS (Translation): Oh, yes, there. Naked.
18.39 - The dead man's sister arrived as we did and is understandably distraught, as she faces a barrage of questions.
18.51 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Is he married?
18.53 - SISTER (Translation): Him? No. He's only 20.
18.57 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): He's your son?
18.58 - FATHER (Translation): Yes.
18.59 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Your name, sir?
19.00 - FATHER (Translation): Abdul Adam.
19.04 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Just now, at what time? It's 3 now.
19.09 - FATHER (Translation):I just heard now, at 3.
19.15 - The victim's father says four men came in the evening and took his son away.
19.22 - FATHER (Translation): Last night. They were covered up, in military uniforms.
19.27 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Covered up?
19.28 - FATHER (Translation): They had balaclavas on. She was kicked.
19.35 - SISTER (Translation): Here. I was also cut here. I said "Don't, sir. My brother has done nothing wrong. What's happening, sir? Please tell me, sir. Tell me, sir. What did my brother do wrong." They told me to shut up and slapped me.
19.50 - Establishing the language the kidnappers spoke is important. If they spoke Javanese, they would be outsiders and therefore, possibly soldiers.
20.00 - FATHER (Translation): Speaking Indonesian? Indonesian and some other language. They also spoke Javanese.
20.05 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Do they speak Acehnese?
20.08 - FATHER (Translation): No Acehnese.
20.12 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Javanese?
20.13 - SISTER (Translation): Yes, they spoke Javanese too.
20.17 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): They spoke Javanese?
20.19 - SISTER (Translation): No, I can't speak Javanese.
20.20JOURNALISTS (Translation): No, them. Them?
20.22 - SISTER (Translation): Yes. They spoke mostly Javanese.
20.32 - The dead man's brother says he was talking to some soldiers in the morning who told him they'd taken some people away the night before. He now believes that they were talking about his brother.
20.46 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Did he start telling you about the kidnappings? He told you?
20.55 - BROTHER (Translation): Yes, he told me.
20.57 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): You listened to his story?
20.59 - BROTHER (Translation): Yes, I listened.
21.02 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): You were sitting with them?
21.05 - BROTHER (Translation): Yes, At the food store? Yes.
21.07 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): What was his rank? How many stripes were there?
21.09 - BROTHER (Translation): One red stripe.
21.19 - The experience has shaken us all. The villagers' testimony appears to implicate the military. The reporters will have to be careful to tell this story in a way that does not get them thrown out of Aceh.
21.39 -CITRA PRASTUTI (Translation): That does point to one of the groups, but you can't be sure. It needs to be confirmed. It may be too early. Everyone here is emotional.
22.02 - The commander of the 400 soldiers in this area is Colonel Rimbo.
22.08 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): Where? In Seumirah. I haven't heard. Where's Seumirah.
2215 - But the horrendous murder that occurred just down the road from his post is apparently news to him.
22.22 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): Check with Charlie-2. They say one of the locals was tied up.
22.28 - It seems inconceivable that with his men firmly in control, he's heard nothing about the brazen attack.
22.39 -COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): We haven't heard. Hold on a minute, I'll go check.
22.49 - When the colonel comes back, he has all the answers.
22.52 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): The TNI have never worn balaclavas Furthermore, we don't go into the villages at night. In fact, we wait at the edge of the village, in case someone is trying to get into the village.
23.12 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): So you think it was GAM?
23.14 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): It's very likely. That's one of the things we've been told. Because you now know that GAM wear balaclavas. It could very well be them.
Now we'll check it out. If we find any information, we will pass it on.
23.35 - One of the journalists bravely asks whether it couldn't have been the colonel's soldiers who abducted the man.
23.42 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): We don't play by those rules any more when we arrest someone. And we bring them back to their families after it's all sorted.
23.56 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): You don't play by those rules any more. That means before...
24.02 - COLONEL RIMBO (Translation): That's what I've heard about olden times. I might not have been a soldier then. That was in the past.
24.15 - At breakfast the next day, the memory of the horrific scene is still fresh in everyone's minds. The whole group met last night and, after a long discussion, they reached consensus on who was responsible for the murder. But they know they must be very cautious about naming the perpetrators.
24.35 - CITRA PRASTUTI (Translation): Perhaps from the discussion we all agreed that this pointed to one particular group because there were some tell tale signs. They carried both long and short weapons, they spoke Javanese and no Acehnese whatsoever. That may point to one particular group, but it might not be our place to bring up who has done this, we just lay out all the facts and let the reader or the viewer decide who they think may have done it.
25.16 - REPORTER (Translation): Are you afraid of saying this because of the army?
25.23 - CITRA PRASTUTI (Translation): From my colleagues' experiences I do feel a bit afraid. Especially as we sleep across the road from that one group.
25.37 - We don't have long to dwell on the murder. There is a new lead to focus on, a credible report of a mass grave.
25.44 - REPORTER (Translation): What information? What did you hear? 100 corpses.
25.47 - VILLAGER (Translation): 100 corpses?
25.50 - REPORTER (Translation): Where?
25.53 - VILLAGER (Translation): We don't know the place yet.
26.00 - So we head off again to check it out. When we get to the area, we come across an army investigation unit. They say they've also heard reports of a grave, but their information is that the bodies are victims of GAM rebels. They're about to leave to start digging.
26.25 - The local reporters jump on the tanks, but when I join them, I'm told to get off. The distrust of foreign reporters runs deep here and while I'm around, noone is going anywhere.
26.41 - I disappear for a while and sure enough, when I catch up with them again, they've already finished digging. But it didn't seem a very thorough job to me.
27.01 - REPORTER: What's his name? What's happening?
27.03 - JOURNALIST: Nothing, that's the thing. Nothing. That's the thing.
27.08 - REPORTER: So they didn't find?
27.12 - JOURNALIST: According to them, they didn't see anything. That's why they came back. We don't know.
27.25 - With the military here, it's impossible for these reporters to properly investigate the serious claims of mass graves in this area.
27.39 - A young man the military say is with GAM is presented to us. We're told not to reveal his face.
27.39 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Could you explain again why you joined GAM?
27.52 - MAN (Translation): I was forced to. If not, they threatened to kill my family.
28.00 - He says he has heard of a grave here, somewhere, with the bodies of civilians killed by the rebels although there was something about his answers that seemed odd. I could be wrong, but I had the distinct feeling that this man had been coached in what to say. I was already suspicious because I could see bloodstains on his scarf.
28.21 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Why are you covering your face?
28.24 - MAN (Translation): No reason. It's normal. I don't know.
28.31 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): So he won't be recognised.
28.43 - Once the troops had gone, we head straight for the villagers who had been watching proceedings from their houses. This woman told us the boy the army had showed us was definitely not with the rebels and there was a good reason they wanted to cover his face.
29.00 - WOMAN (Translation): He was arrested, beaten and interrogated. His face was such a mess that many women cried when they saw him.
29.09 - She says the vast majority of people in this area want independence and thousands of them have taken to the hills with GAM.
29.17 - WOMAN (Translation): There's no record of GAM forcing people to join, because everyone wants to join GAM. Even us. There's no need to force them.
29.29 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Why is that?
29.32 - WOMAN (Translation): Because we know that GAM's objective is to fight for our independence. The people no longer want to be part of Indonesia. So if GAM runs away, the villagers also run away. Because when soldiers come they are beaten. They consider us the same.
29.53 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): The community supports them?
29.54 - WOMAN (Translation): Yes, all of us. The entire Acehnese community supports GAM. Even young children are part of GAM.
30.05 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): Aren't you afraid, knowing all the threats made to people here? Aren't you and your mother afraid?
30.18 - WOMAN (Translation): We've been living with these threats for many years. We've been threatened for so long, it's now quite normal. We don't care if we live or die. It's up to the Almighty.
30.40 - In the car, leaving the village, we're all a little taken aback by the woman who showed no fear.
30.47 - JOURNALISTS (Translation): I was quite surprised by the woman back there. She had such confidence, such bravery.
31.00 - A few days later, William Nesson surrendered and the commercial TV station SCTV got exclusive rights to cover the event.
31.21 - The other reporters immediately went on strike to protest the obvious favouritism. In the presence of the American defence attache, Nesson was taken off for interrogation. He's now in police custody awaiting a decision on his fate. In the days following his surrender, hundreds of bombs were dropped on the area where he'd been hiding.
31.51 - As the war continues in Aceh, so does the bizarre training for embedded journalists in Java.
32.09 - ARMY TRAINER (Translation): Here's how you catch it. If it's moving, we can grip it and spin it around.
32.19 - But most of these reporters will never even reach the war zone. They work for foreign news organisations, and by the time they are ready to leave, new regulations are in place forbidding them from travelling to Aceh. The war in Aceh is to be cut off from the world's prying eyes.
Reporter/Camera
DAVID O'SHEA
Producer
ALAN HALL
Editors
BEN DEACON
KERRIE-ANN WALLACH