The Jakarta Post, April 26, 2004
House to summon Da'i over Ba'asyir terror probe
P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The House of Representatives has arranged a hearing with National Police chief Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar scheduled for early in May to clarify the motives behind the probe into
Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir for his alleged role in terrorist activities.
"We want to know the police reasons for the investigation and whether foreign
pressure and intervention are behind the move," said Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of
Commission I for defense and foreign affairs.
The plan came after a visit by Reform faction members to the Salemba Penitentiary
on Friday in a show of support for the cleric. Commission member A.M. Lutfi led the
visit, the second by politicians after Prosperous Justice Party Chairman Hidayat
Nurwahid a week before.
Deputy chairman of Commission II for legal and home affairs Hamdan Zoelva told The
Jakarta Post the commission was seeking a separate hearing with Da'i for the same
purpose.
"The police move has sparked suspicion in our society, because it came as the cleric
was about to leave prison," Hamdan, of the Muslim-based Crescent Star Party, said.
The strong allegation of foreign intervention in Ba'asyir's case emerged after
Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif admitted to the media that U.S.
Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce had personally asked him to persuade Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar and Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan to keep Ba'asyir in
prison.
Boyce, however, denied allegations that he had intervened in Indonesia's legal affairs,
saying that it was a normal thing in diplomacy to give an opinion or comment on a
particular incident, such as Ba'asyir's case.
Washington has expressed concern at the completion of Ba'asyir's jail term on April
30, asserting that the Muslim figure has deep involvement in terrorist activities.
Police are scheduled to interrogate Ba'asyir as a suspect at the National Police
Headquarters on Monday. Director VI for Antiterrorism and Bombs Brig. Gen.
Pranowo said the summons for the cleric was sent on Thursday.
Pranowo said the terrorist suspect would be accompanied by his lawyers during the
interrogation.
He hinted the police could detain the cleric for investigation in accordance with Law
No. 15/2003 on terrorism.
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