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On September
11, 2002, during its routine checks, the Indonesian Police in
South Aceh arrested two foreign nationals who have abused their
tourist visa to conduct activities presumably related to the separatist
movement operating in the region. They are Ms. Lesley Jane McCulloch
(UK citizen) and Ms. Joy Lee Sadler (US citizen).
During the
preliminary investigation, Ms. Lesley Jane McCulloch confessed
that they had to use tourist visa to enter Aceh, for the Indonesian
representatives in Australia turned down their request to obtain
an appropriate visa to conduct research in Aceh. The Indonesian
Embassy in Canberra has thoroughly verified this information and
found out that no such request had been submitted, affirming the
fact that she has given fake information.
No longer able to maintain the credibility of this information,
Ms. Lesley McCulloch and Ms. Joy Lee Sadler through their lawyer
submitted yet another fake information, stating that they were
actually tourists and planned to visit Banyak Island in Aceh.
It is definitely in sharp contrast to the claims Ms. McCulloch
has always stated that she is an 'authority' or an expert on Aceh's
issue (visit www.theage.com.au,
for further information). Hence, it can be fairly assumed that
the visit of the two to Aceh is related to activities to support
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Canberra,
23 September 2002
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