Ba'asyir named terror suspect<\/p>\n
P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The police, citing incriminating evidence collected during the
\nongoing intensive investigation, have formally named cleric Abu
\nBakar Ba'asyir a suspect in various terror attacks that rocked
\nthe country over the past few years.<\/p>\n
National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung
\nSoedjono said on Friday the police would charge Ba'asyir under
\nLaw No. 15\/2003 on terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"We will summon Ba'asyir for questioning immediately,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The police's confirmation ended month-long speculation on the
\nlegal status of Ba'asyir, who will complete his jail term for
\nimmigration violations and document fraud on April 29. Ba'asyir
\nhas been detained since his forcible arrest by the police at the
\nPKU Muhammadiyah Hospital in the Central Java town of Surakarta
\non Oct. 28, 2002.<\/p>\n
Last month the United States government pressed ahead with an
\ninvestigation into the cleric's alleged involvement in
\ninternational terrorism. Washington also expressed worries about
\nBa'asyir being released from prison.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has reacted angrily to the U.S. comments, branding
\nthem interference in Jakarta's domestic affairs.<\/p>\n
Separately, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on
\nFriday the police had yet to determine the specific role of
\nBa'asyir -- whether he was directly involved, or simply aided and
\nabetted those were involved in terrorist activities.<\/p>\n
\"We sent a letter on April 8 to inform the Jakarta
\nProsecutor's Office about the start of Ba'asyir's questioning.
\nThis is a part of the normal process set out in the Criminal Law
\nProcedures Code,\" said Da'i.<\/p>\n
Suyitno said the questioning of the cleric would revolve
\naround his alleged role as the leader of a secretive organization
\nthat masterminded various terror attacks in the country.<\/p>\n
\"We already have the evidence, such as testimony from
\nSingapore and Malaysia that mention the involvement of an
\norganization of which Ba'asyir is stated as being the leader,\"
\nsaid Suyitno.<\/p>\n
Foreign governments have long believed that Ba'asyir is the
\nspiritual leader of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), a UN-listed terrorist
\norganization blamed for the October 2002 Bali blasts and the
\nAugust 2003 JW Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
According to Suyitno, the police had documents belonging to
\nthe organization and would use these to prove the cleric's
\nleadership role in the group.<\/p>\n
Asked about Ba'asyir's possible involvement in the Bali
\nbombings, Suyitno said the police would not focus on specific
\ncases, but would rather look at the broader picture of overall
\nterrorist connections.<\/p>\n
During his earlier trial, the courts found no evidence of
\nBa'asyir's role in JI.<\/p>\n
Attorney General's Office spokesman Kemas Yahya Rahman
\nconfirmed that according to a letter sent by the National Police
\ninvestigating team on April 8, the cleric would be charged with
\nviolating Articles 14, 15, 17, and 18 of the antiterrorism law.<\/p>\n
Article 14 says that any person who plans and\/or persuades
\nother parties to commit acts of terrorism can be sentenced to
\ndeath or life imprisonment upon conviction.<\/p>\n
Article 15 states that a person who assists or abets the
\ncommission of an act of terrorism can be charged with a criminal
\noffense.<\/p>\n
Article 17 says that if a terror attack is perpetrated under
\nthe name of an organization, an indictment can be addressed to
\nthe leadership of the group.<\/p>\n
Article 18 states that any organization that is proved to have
\nbeen involved in a terror attack may be fined up to Rp 1 trillion
\n(US$117.6 million), and the government may declare it a
\nprohibited organization.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/baasyir-named-terror-suspect-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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