The Undercover: US Photographers Involvement in the Aceh Conflict

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Image source: Media Aceh

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William Nessen a foreign journalist with US citizenship "trapped" a war between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian National Army (TNI / Polri). Important documents resulting from his coverage even disappeared when a shoot-out occurred between the two camps.

Billy, GAM combatant greeting to William, finally resigned. He asked to leave the forest to one of the guerrillas in Aceh. Of course Billy's request was granted. However, GAM asked Billy to confirm the US Embassy for Indonesia in Jakarta. Billy must also get the blessing of the commander of Iskandar Muda Military Command as the martial law ruler in Aceh. Thus, the GAM can guarantee the safety of Billy when he was picked up by the United States.

Diplomacy with the embassy of the United States Embassy had several times deadlocked. Especially when the military emergency authorities of Aceh even announced Billy as a spy in the conflict area. This news blows into the mass media. The existence of Billy in the interior of Aceh with combatants became the headlines in the mass media.

Billy then lobbied back the US Embassy to Indonesia to pick him up in North Aceh. He also asked two US active soldiers to escort Billy out of Aceh. Billy hopes that the United States will put pressure on Indonesia on their military attitude to suspect Billy. The tall man felt threatened.

Finally the military lawmakers in Aceh softened. Billy was allowed down the mountain. The martial law lord also promised there would be no fire contacts as the US ambassador picked up Billy. Moses' strategy worked.

The Acheh Sumatera National Liberation Front (ASNLF)/GAM /then escorted Billy to the pick-up point. They remain cautious because they could meet the Indonesian soldiers patrol on their way. The night was so dark. When suddenly in the darkness of the night came the sound of footprints like the clatter of army shoes. Billy was pale.

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The author of the novel Sang Kombatan, Murdani Abdullah Musa aka Musa AM aka @dondanny, signed the book for me.

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The story above is one of my conclusions after reading the most popular novel 2017 in Aceh titled Sang Kombatan. This novel tells the story of guerrillas the freedom Aceh in times of conflict occurred the area.

The printed novel of more than 600 pages focuses on the figure of Moses, the main character, a well-known intellectual who graduated from Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta. Moses was willing to leave Yogyakarta and the sweet girl from Java just to demand justice, through the GAM movement. Later he became an influential figure in the military circle Acheh Sumatra National Liberation Front (ASNLF).

This novel is so interesting because it is taken from the true story of a GAM combatant in Pasee, Aceh. Despite the fiction, I judge the story in this novel to be more impressed with obscured historical records. Perhaps Murdani Abdullah (@dondanny) alias Musa AM, the author of the novel Sang Kombatan is about to convey to the public how the Aceh conflict at that time.

Including what GAM fought for, and how the people's sacrifices were sympathetic to the combatants. I recommend this novel to read. A lot of history about Aceh's condition during the conflict is reviewed in this novel, with the typical writing technique of a journalist. Salute to @dondanny.