LAKSAMANA.Net, September 26, 2002 09:31 PM
Rais Rejects CIA Allegations
September 26, 2002 09:31 PM, By the Editor
Laksamana.Net - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Amien Rais has
dismissed the CIA's allegation that extremist Muslim preacher Abu Bakar Bashir is
linked to Al-Qaeda, citing the US intelligence agency's long history of stirring up
conflict in other countries.
"Since the Cold War, the CIA has always been interfering in other countries' affairs,"
he was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara on Thursday (26/9/02).
The CIA, which was formed in 1947, has indeed been involved in numerous covert
operations to overthrow "unfriendly" governments or thwart political groups in many
countries – not always meeting with success.
Critics say that thanks to CIA backing and propaganda, despots have been able to
overthrow and murder several democratically elected leaders.
Clandestine CIA operations have been carried out in: Greece (1949), Albania (1949),
Iran (1953, 1985-86), Guatemala (1954 and 1965), Hungary (1956), Indonesia (1958),
North Vietnam (1954-58), Cuba (1959-60s), Dominican Republic (1960), Congo (1960),
Algeria (1958-62), Laos (1962), Chile (1962-73), Ecuador (1963), Bolivia (1967),
Cambodia (1970, 1972), Angola (1975), Nicaragua (1981, 1983), Pakistan (1983), the
Philippines (1983), Lebanon (1983), El Salvador (1983), Afghanistan (1984) – and
well, the list goes on and on.
Rais urged the Indonesian government to adopt a strong stance to defend its citizens
from unproven accusations made by the CIA.
"It is out of order for a foreign party to make a fool of us. Those who try to snatch our
citizens should be deported," he said sternly.
"The government should act as protector [of alleged terrorists] or we shall lose our
national dignity," he added.
Time magazine recently published information from a leaked CIA report that alleged
Bashir was linked to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Rais said that as a large sovereign nation, Indonesia must reject unproven
accusations made by foreign parties.
However, he said the government should comply with an extradition request if the
foreign party provides evidence of a citizen's involvement in terrorism.
Justice Minister Yusril Izha Mahendra earlier this month said the government had no
evidence to arrest Bashir, let alone any legal grounds to hand him over to the US.
"Who accused him of being a terrorist? It's a new accusation of the United States.
We can't accept it just like that because we also don't yet have an anti-terrorism law,"
he said.
"The Justice Ministry will defend him," he added.
Chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the government is
investigating Bashir's alleged links to international terrorism.
He said the government will not arrest the cleric simply because foreign countries are
suspicious of him.
The minister also said Indonesia was not in a position to decide whether the CIA's
information was correct.
Military Admission
Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) commander General Endriartono Sutarto said
Thursday that military intelligence reports indicate a terrorism network is operating in
Indonesia, but he insisted there was no evidence that it was linked to Al-Qaeda.
He said the reports by the National Intelligence Agency showed that a haphazard
group of foreigners was involved in the religious conflict between Muslims and
Christians in the Maluku islands and Central Sulawesi.
"From what was conveyed yesterday by the National Intelligence Agency to the
parliament, it seems that there are [terrorists] here," Sutarto was quoted as saying by
the Associated Press.
"They trained, armed and helped launch attacks in Maluku and Central Sulawesi," he
added.
An estimated 10,000 people have been killed since the violence erupted in the
Malukus and Sulawesi in 1999.
Long-term observers of the conflict say elements of the military have been fanning
hostilities and did little to stop foreigners from joining the violence.
In the wake of the September 2001 attacks on the US, TNI generally denied that any
foreign terrorists were Indonesia. (The lone exception was National Intelligence
Agency chief Lieutenant General Hendropriyono, who said Al-Qaeda had once
operated a training camp in Sulwesi.)
But the generals changed their tune after the US in August pledged to provide
Indonesian security forces with about $50 million to help combat terrorism.
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