Police apologize for damage to Muhammadiyah Hospital<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Surakarta<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has apologized for all
\nnegative impacts resulting from the removal of terror suspect Abu
\nBakar Ba'asyir from the Muhammadiyah hospital in Surakarta on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after meeting Vice President Hamzah
\nHaz on Thursday, Da'i said police had no option but to take
\nBa'asyir by force for the sake of the investigation.<\/p>\n
\"We apologized to Muhammadiyah hospital and Muslim leaders
\nbecause we had no choice because of the limited time and the
\npresence of Ba'asyir's supporters outside the hospital,\" Da'i
\nsaid, adding police would pay for any damage to the hospital.<\/p>\n
Ba'asyir, removed from hospital ten days after he was first
\nadmitted for respiratory problem, is suspected of plotting to
\nassassinate President Megawati Soekarnoputri and being behind the
\nChristmas bomb attacks in Jakarta in 2000.<\/p>\n
Both charges carry the death penalty under the criminal Code.<\/p>\n
Ba'asyir's supporters were involved in a violent clash with
\nthe police following the removal of Ba'asyir. Six people,
\nincluding three Ba'asyir supporters were injured in the incident.
\nParts of the hospital were damaged to allow police to reach the
\nhospital's VIP room where Ba'asyir was being treated.<\/p>\n
Da'i insisted police would monitor Ba'asyir's health during
\nthe interrogation. \"We are considering interrogating him at the
\nPolice hospital where he is being treated,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He asked Ba'asyir's lawyers to cooperate during the
\ninterrogation so it could be conducted as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
National Police Deputy Chief Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said Ba'asyir
\nhad \"a sore throat\", which meant questioning could not go ahead
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"The police's medical team advised us to give him two or three
\ndays to rest and recover from his throat ailment,\" he said<\/p>\n
Prasetyo said Ba'asyir would be questioned when his health
\nimproved.<\/p>\n
Differing form his superior, Prasetyo said police would likely
\ninterrogate Ba'asyir at police headquarters which had been
\nprepared for his arrival.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the possibility that Ba'asyir would maintain his
\nsilence, Prasetyo said: \"It will be disadvantages for him to keep
\nsilent.\"<\/p>\n
In Surakarta, an alliance of Muslim organizations (UIS)
\ncondemned police conduct during Ba'asyir's removal, saying the
\ngovernment should discharge Prasetyo who led the operation.<\/p>\n
UIS also refused to cooperate with the police inquiry, saying
\npolice had terrorized the Muslim people.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-apologize-for-damage-to-muhammadiyah-hospital-1447893297",
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