Hambali's answer lacking: Da'i<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police have received answers to questions submitted to the United
\nStates but find them inadequate to build a strong case against
\nalleged terror kingpin Riduan Isamuddin, alias Hambali, the
\nleader of regional terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI).<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Thursday that
\nIndonesian investigators would still demand direct access to
\nHambali, currently in U.S. custody at an undisclosed location.<\/p>\n
\"They have given us replies, but they are not sufficient on
\nwhich to base a prosecution. Our interrogators must question him
\ndirectly to build a case against him,\" Da'i told a media
\nconference on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The police have sought direct access to Indonesian-born
\nHambali to question him as a suspect in a spate of terrorist
\nattacks across the country, including the Bali bombings on Oct.
\n12 last year and the JW Marriot Hotel attack on Aug. 5.<\/p>\n
At least 202 people were killed in the Bali bombings, and 12
\nin the Marriot attacks. Police have arrested more than 40
\nsuspects in the two terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
Da'i said under existing laws, prosecutors would indict a
\nsuspect on the basis of a police dossier.<\/p>\n
He added that Indonesian interrogators faced difficulties in
\nframing their questions for Hambali.<\/p>\n
The U.S. has yet to allow Indonesian investigators direct
\naccess to Hambali, who is also wanted in several other countries
\nfor his alleged involvement in terrorist acts.<\/p>\n
\"We insist that Hambali be presented before the court here as
\nhe was involved in a string of bombings across the country since
\n2000, including the recent Marriott Hotel bombing,\" Da'i said.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono, meanwhile, said that he had conveyed
\nIndonesia's requests during a recent meeting with U.S Federal
\nBureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller, Deputy
\nDefense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Secretary of State Colin
\nPowell.<\/p>\n
But, as Da'i asserted regarding the need to prosecute Hambali,
\nSusilo placed more emphasis on the possibility of future bombings
\nthat might be carried out in the country by JI. (changed from
\n\"the group\".)<\/p>\n
\"I have told them that Indonesia requires access to Hambali to
\nfind out whether JI has plans to bomb more locations in
\nIndonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, the government could understand that Hambali was
\ncurrently receiving \"special U.S. treatment,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
\"In the meantime, we have questioned Hambali (via the U.S
\ngovernment),\" he said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. has provided Indonesia with the result of its
\ninterrogation of Hambali. Indonesia has also been allowed to
\nquestion Hambali indirectly. Isn't this obvious from all that has
\ngone before, and therefore doesn't need to be repeated?<\/p>\n
The refusal by the U.S. for Indonesia to have direct access to
\nHambali, who was captured in Thailand and held in U.S. custody,
\nhas irked legislators, who have said it would only hamper the
\nantiterrorism drive here.<\/p>\n
JI is believed to have links with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda
\nterrorist group, blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks in Washington
\nand New York.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hambalis-answer-lacking-dai-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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