Dutch police slammed for seeking scapegoats<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands J.B.
\nSoedarmanto Kadarisman has complained bitterly that the Dutch
\npolice were seeking scapegoats when they accused Indonesian
\ndiplomats of being involved in Ecstasy trafficking.<\/p>\n
\"They (the police) are only seeking scapegoats. Their
\naccusations have not been backed by concrete evidence,\"
\nKadarisman was quoted by Antara as saying Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
The ambassador also strove to ease concerns on a possible
\nwrangle over diplomatic immunity in the police investigation. \"We
\nare willing to be examined according to Dutch law,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kadarisman objected to the \"anti-Indonesia tone\" of Dutch
\nnewspaper reports on the arrest of a Garuda Indonesia pilot for
\nallegedly trying to smuggle 8,000 Ecstasy pills out of the
\nNetherlands, and the subsequent accusation that Indonesian
\ndiplomats were involved.<\/p>\n
The ambassador told his staff not to worry about the reports.<\/p>\n
\"This is a challenge for us as a fighting nation. We have to
\nshow The Hague that we're not a nation that can be treated the
\nway it was under colonialism 51 years ago,\" Kadarisman said.<\/p>\n
The Dutch major newspaper, De Telegraaf, on Monday quoted the
\npolice as saying that Indonesian Embassy staff were involved in
\nan Ecstasy smuggling ring. The paper said police suspected \"the
\nsecretary of the trade attache\" as being the ringleader of an
\nEcstasy trafficking group.<\/p>\n
The police earlier arrested Garuda pilot Mohammad Said, 49, at
\nSchiphol Airport for trying to smuggle 8,000 Ecstasy pills to
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
During his first few days of arrest, Said was reportedly
\nabused and denied legal counsel during interrogation.<\/p>\n
Kadarisman said De Telegraaf and other newspaper reports
\ninsulted Indonesians. \"The Hague has often called itself the
\nchampion of human rights. In this case, however, its police have
\ntreated their suspect inhumanely,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Defense Attache at the embassy Col. Lutfhie said
\nhe suspects that anti-Indonesia campaigners were taking advantage
\nof the case by using The Hague media to tarnish Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He cited a group called Front Komando Waspada who last August
\nthreatened to embarrass and kill Indonesian diplomats. \"From it
\n(the terror), we can see links between the threat and the anti-
\nIndonesia reports now,\" Lutfhie said. (ste)<\/p>",
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