Embassy considers bailing out Indonesians<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian Embassy officials in Manila are discussing the
\npossibility of paying US$4,000 to secure bail bonds for three
\nIndonesian nationals arrested in the Philippines, Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Agus Dwikarna, Tamsil Linrung and Abdul Jamal Balfas were
\ntaken into custody at Ninoy Aquino Airport in Manila on Sunday
\nfor possession of components to make a C4 bomb, one of the most
\npowerful of all military explosives, an allegation which has been
\ndenied by the three Indonesians.<\/p>\n
"We are studying the pros and cons of getting the men bailed
\nout of jail. We are also discussing this with the arrested men,"
\nHassan told reporters at the State Palace on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The bail will not grant the men immunity for their alleged
\ncrimes, or allow them to leave the Philippines. They would only
\nbe permitted to stay outside the penitentiary pending legal
\naction, Hassan said.<\/p>\n
"I have instructed our embassy officials to investigate the
\nmatter, and to try and find out whether the bomb-making material
\nreally belonged to the men ... and whether these men were present
\nwhen their luggage was being inspected," Hassan said.<\/p>\n
Hassan's remarks were clear indications that he harbored
\nsuspicions that the parts could conceivably have been planted in
\nthe men's luggage without their knowledge or consent.<\/p>\n
The three Indonesians reportedly told Philippine police
\ninvestigators that they came to the country at the request of a
\nThai businessman who was running a coal mining operation.<\/p>\n
National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang
\nsaid that National police detectives and Indonesian intelligence
\nofficials were scheduled to leave for the Philippines on Thursday
\nfor a one-week visit.<\/p>\n
He had said earlier that Indonesian police needed to speak
\nwith the three men to find out how they ended with having bomb-
\nmaking components inside their luggage.<\/p>\n
The police will also explore the possibility of ties between
\nthe three men and another Indonesian, explosives expert Fathur
\nRohman al-Ghozi, who remains in detention after his arrest in
\nManila this January.<\/p>\n
Philippine police have said that the four Indonesians are
\nmembers of the alleged al-Qaeda-linked group, Jemaah Islamiyah.<\/p>\n
Agus is also known as a member of the advisory board of the
\nCommittee for the Preparation of the Enforcement of Islamic
\nSharia (KPPSI) in South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, senior members of the KPPSI met on Wednesday with
\nSouth Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna and South Sulawesi
\ncouncillor Edy Baramuli demanding that they vouch for Agus and
\nTamsil as being good Indonesian citizens.<\/p>\n
After the meeting, Palaguna said that not only did he welcome
\nthe visitors, but that he personally knew both Agus and Tamsil
\nwere "good Indonesian citizens."<\/p>\n
"I will make sure to speak with concerned institutions on
\nThursday, on the possible deportation of the three men," Palaguna
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
KPPSI executive member Azwar Hassan told reporters that he was
\nalso trying to contact South Sulawesi Police Chief Insp. Gen.
\nFirman Gani to convey Agus' message to Azwar that all three
\narrested Indonesians did not know how the bomb-making components
\nwere placed in their luggage.<\/p>\n
Former defense minister Juwono Sudarsono, meanwhile, supported
\nthe government's move to provide the arrested Indonesian with
\nlegal assistance.<\/p>\n
The effort, he said, would protect the legal rights of the
\nIndonesians, while helping to solve the case. "Clear evidence
\nmust be sought to prove whether or not the three Indonesians are
\nterrorists," he said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He added that terrorism was universal, and should not be
\nlinked solely to one particular religion.<\/p>",
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