Baaqil clarifies arrest order with Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Islamic leader Habib A. Baaqil, whose arrest was
\nordered by President Abdurrahman Wahid for his alleged
\ninvolvement in the fatal Jakarta Stock Exchange bombing last
\nweek, withdrew his threat to 'retaliate' against the president,
\nsaying that the matter had been sufficiently explained to him.<\/p>\n
He claimed on Tuesday to have had a very positive meeting with
\nthe President on Sunday. \"I love Gus Dur (the President) even
\nmore now,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying. He didn't
\nelaborate.<\/p>\n
Last Friday, two days after the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX)
\nbombing, which killed at least 10 people, the President ordered
\nthe police to arrest Hutomo (Tommy) Mandala Putra, former
\npresident Soeharto's youngest son, and Baaqil over the bombing.<\/p>\n
The President said the arrests were intended to prevent other
\n(possible) bombings and an escalation of terrorism.<\/p>\n
On Friday afternoon Baaqil went to the Jakarta Police
\nHeadquarters to clarify 'his position' as regards the bombing,
\nwhile Tommy went to the Jakarta Police headquarters at the
\npolice's request on Saturday. They both denied being linked to
\nthe spate of bombings and are still free.<\/p>\n
Police said they did not have adequate evidence to incriminate
\nTommy and Baaqil. This reportedly aroused the President's ire,
\nwhich led to the sacking of National Police chief Gen.
\nRusdihardjo on Monday.<\/p>\n
In several interviews with the media, the founder of the Islam
\nDefenders Front (FPI) said he was shocked by the President's
\nstatements and was ready to take appropriate action against the
\nPresident unless he apologized for the controversy.<\/p>\n
Baaqil stated in the Sept. 24, 2000 issue of the Forum
\nKeadilan weekly that he was ready to disclose seven secrets
\nconcerning the President if the President failed to clarify his
\nremarks and apologize within three days (of making the remarks).
\n\"I will file a law suit against him,\" he declared.<\/p>\n
He said he also wanted to deploy FPI members, as well as
\nIslamic figures, around the presidential palace.<\/p>\n
However, he later said that he would tone down his anger for
\nthe sake of the 200 million inhabitants of Indonesia. \"Who wants
\nbloodshed? Even the security officers have advised me (to calm
\ndown),\" he told Forum Keadilan.<\/p>\n
Responding to a question as to whether he would proceed with
\nhis plan to sue the President, Baaqil said on Tuesday that he was
\ntrying to control his feelings.<\/p>\n
\"We want the best solution. We do not want the people to
\nsuffer more due to this problem,\" he said, adding that he wanted
\nto discuss the issue further with other Islamic leaders. (sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/baaqil-clarifies-arrest-order-with-gus-dur-1447893297",
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