On September 11, 2002, during its routine checks, the Indonesia 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).
 

(Source : Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia in Canberra, Australia)
 

Indonesian Version