Xinhua News Agency, 2003-01-30 18:34:09
Indonesian court acquits paramilitary Muslim group leader
JAKARTA, Jan. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The East Jakarta District Court of Indonesia on
Thursday acquitted Jaffar Umar Thalib, top leader of the Muslim paramilitarry group
Laskar Jihad, of all charges.
"The judge panel can not find evidence to prove the three accusations against Jaffar,"
said presiding judge Mansyur Nasution.
Jaffar, 41, was accused of insulting President Megawati Soekarnoputri, treason and
inciting religious violence in Maluku province last year.
Some 200 Jaffar's supporters welcomed the decision, simultaneously chanting "Allahu
Akbar (God the Almighty)" around and inside the court room.
"I hope it (the decision) reflects the judges' stance towards the truth," Jaffar told
reporters after the court hearing.
Following the court decision, prosecutor Slamet Rianto deliberated on whether to
appeal the verdict.
Jaffar leads the paramilitary group to fight a "holy war" against Christians in the
Maluku islands and Central Sulawesi.
Since 2000, the group, based in Yogyakarta province, has trained thousands of men
to go to the troubled regions to lead Muslims against Christians.
Only days after the Bali bombing on Oct. 12, the group announced it was disbanding
but denied the decision was linked to the bomb.
Jaffar joined with the Afghan Mujahiddin in the 1980s. News reports said he met
Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in 1987 but Jaffar denied link with the al-Qaeda
network. End item
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