Laksamana.Net, March 20, 2002 05:55 AM
Government Defends Trio Linked to Terrorism
Laksamana.Net - The government has spoken out in support of three Indonesians
detained in the Philippines last week for alleged links to Osama bin Laden's terrorism
network Al-Qaeda. Two of the suspects have been linked to major political parties.
Tamsil Linrung, Agus Dwikarna and Abdul Jamal Balfas were arrested last
Wednesday (13/3/02) at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport for having an
explosive material – C4 – in their luggage when about to board a commercial flight to
Bangkok, Thailand.
All three are suspected to be members of the Islamic militant group Jemaah
Islamiyah, which is allegedly connected to Al-Qaeda.
Linrung was treasurer of the National Mandate Party (PAN) until he quit the post in
December 2001. PAN is led by People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker
Amien Rais, who is the former leader of the nation's second biggest Islamic
organization Muhammdiyah and likely to run for the presidency in 2004.
Linrung is a member of the Islamic Propagation Council (Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah -
DDI), which has links to the former ruling Golkar Party.
He has also been described as an entrepreneur with a chain of Padang restaurants,
and businesses in construction, mineral water and agriculture.
Dwikarna, a civil engineer by training, is the commander of a group called Laskar
Jundullah, which wants the constitution altered so that all Indonesian Muslims would
be obliged to follow Islamic law. He also heads a chapter of DDI and is reportedly
fourth in command of the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI).
MMI is led by Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who has been named by Singapore
and Malaysia as Jemaah Islamiyah's spiritual leader. Ba'asyir has denied links to
Al-Qaeda but has praised bin Laden as a "true Muslim fighter”.
Both Linrung and Dwikarna have been active in the Crisis Center Committee
(Kompak), an organization formed by DDI to distribute aid from Middle Eastern
countries to conflict areas including Ambon (Maluku) and Poso (Central Sulawesi).
There have been allegations that Linrung used Kompak as a means to supply
weapons to Muslim fighters in Ambon and Poso.
Balfas has said he is the manager of PT Bumi Daya Kutat, which he described as a
contractor for an Indonesian mining firm.
He reportedly told police that an Indonesian friend had invited him to the Philippines to
consider investing in a coal mining project in Mindanao with a Thai businessman,
Prasan Sironond.
Don't Jump to Conclusions
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on
Tuesday (19/3/02) said it should not be automatically assumed that the three
Indonesians were involved in terrorist activities.
The men were arrested only for immigration violations and carrying components that
could be used as explosives, he said in Jakarta after addressing a seminar on conflict
resolution.
"Not a single statement links the three Indonesians to terrorism. Therefore we should
not overreact to the case," he was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.
Yudhoyono said the government would seek further information about the detainees
and provide them with legal assistance.
He said three senior Indonesian police officers would soon be sent to the Philippines
to observe developments in the case. "We will hear comprehensive explanations from
the three Indonesians,” he said.
National Police spokesman Brigadier General Edward Aritonang confirmed that police
would seek information directly from the suspects.
He said police would also work closely with Interpol and the regional police network,
Aseanapol.
Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Suratmin has reportedly already met with
the detainees.
Vice President Hamzah Haz said the government was obliged to help Indonesians
arrested in other countries. "The government will give them legal assistance," he said.
Authorities in the Philippines in January 2002 arrested Indonesian citizen Fathur
Rohman al Ghozi, an explosives expert, for immigration violations and his alleged role
in a Manila bomb attack that killed 22 people and injured more than 100 in December
2000.
He is also suspected of masterminding an alleged plot by Jemaah Islamiyah
members to attack US military staff and bomb several Western embassies in
Singapore.
Conspiracy
The National Mandate Party (PAN) has said the arrest of Linrung could be part of an
international conspiracy to discredit party leader Amien Rais and prevent him from
becoming president in 2004.
Fachri Harahap, head of PAN's legal team, said Saturday (16/3/02) clandestine efforts
were being made by certain domestic and foreign political groups to assassinate the
character of Rais.
He said Linrung had served as PAN treasurer until December 16, 2001, when he
resigned from the party in order to concentrate on his business activities.
"So whatever activities he is involved in now are no longer related to PAN," he said.
He claimed that opponents of Rais were attempting to use whatever means possible
to derail his political career.
Harahap said the arrest of Linrung would be used to discredit Rais because – unlike
some other top politicians – the PAN leader could not be linked to the misuse of
state funds from the National Logistics Agency (Bulog).
"This means that ahead of the 2004 general election, Amien Rais is the cleanest and
most promising national leader, so his political opponents have tried to block him by
hook or by crook.”
Harahap also said that Rais is the nation's leading reformist, but certain Indonesian
and foreign groups have long been attempting to falsely portray him as a dangerous
Muslim fundamentalist.
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