Chicago Tribune journalist expelled from Aceh
Title -- 4603 INDONESIA: Chicago Tribune journalist expelled from Aceh
Date -- 5 January 2005
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- USINDO updates, fbp@igc.org 4/1/05
Copyright - USINDO
Status -- Unabridged
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CHICAGO TRIBUNE JOURNALIST EXPELLED FROM ACEH
BANDA ACEH (USINDO/Pacific Media Watch): Amcit Michael Lev, the Chicago Tribune's Beijing bureau chief, and Indonesian citizen Handewi Pramesti, a freelance journalist, were detained by the Indonesian military December 29 in the city of Meulaboh, West Aceh.
The two were detained while investigating the post-disaster situation in Meulaboh, devastated by the Boxing Day tsunami, and, it was said, for not having the proper permits to be in the area.
(Note: Earlier in the week, Vice President Yusuf Kalla announced publicly that permission was no longer needed for foreign diplomats and journalists to enter Aceh. End note.)
Lev was never formally charged or arrested for a crime, but he and his companion were detained overnight in Meulaboh.
Only military radio communication was available in the area, so Lev was unable to contact Embassy or Medan Office. On the morning of December 30, the two were flown to Banda Aceh.
After a day of waiting, Lev and his companion were returned to Medan. They were told that they were to be given to immigration officials and deported.
However, once in Medan, they were told that if a US diplomatic representative came to meet Lev, he would be released into their custody. At our request, they released him and his passport into US custody.
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