Scores hurt after Ba'asyir's rearrest<\/p>\n
P.C. Naommy and Evi Mariani, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police rearrested a controversial Muslim cleric on terrorism
\ncharges here on Friday moments after his release from Salemba
\nprison, triggering violent clashes between his supporters and the
\npolice that left more than 100 injured.<\/p>\n
Police said that the charges laid against Abu Bakar Ba'asyir
\nregarding his involvement in a string of terror attacks in the
\ncountry between 1999 and 2002 were based on statements made about
\nBa'asyir by the perpetrators of the attacks.<\/p>\n
\"The perpetrators have said Ba'asyir is the Amir (spiritual
\nleader) of a secretive group called Jamaah Al Islamiyah (JI),\"
\nsaid National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno
\nLandung Soedjono.<\/p>\n
JI is an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization blamed for the
\nOct. 2002 Bali blast and the Aug. 2003 JW Marriott bomb attack in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Due to his alleged role as a leader of JI, police charged
\nBa'asyir on Friday under articles 14, 15, and 17 of Law No.
\n15\/2003 for planning, persuading, abetting, and perpetrating
\nterrorist attacks in the name of JI.<\/p>\n
Ba'asyir was released after serving an 18-month term for
\nimmigration-related offenses and document forgery but was
\nimmediately detained under the tough new antiterror law that
\nallows detention without trial for up to six months.<\/p>\n
Suyitno said the police were currently consulting Muslim
\npolitical experts to confirm that the term \"Amir\" signified a
\nleader in order to strengthen their case.<\/p>\n
News about his rearrest and his transfer to National Police
\nHeadquarters incensed hundreds of his supporters waiting outside
\nthe penitentiary in Central Jakarta, who then attempted to block
\nhis removal.<\/p>\n
When 58 paramilitary police moved in to push them back and
\nclear the way, Ba'asyir's 700 or so supporters began throwing
\nrocks and other objects. They also damaged an outside broadcast
\nunit belonging to APTN television. Five hundred police
\nreinforcements moved in with tear gas and water cannon to quell
\nthe rioting.<\/p>\n
Sixty-six police officers, including three senior officers,
\nwere hurt in the melee.<\/p>\n
\"The most serious injuries, severely fractured skulls in all
\ncases, were suffered by three officers, including Adj. Sr. Comr.
\nSuparmono, the head of the city police's intelligence division,\"
\nsaid Sr. Comr. Budi Siswanto, the head of police's medical
\ndivision.<\/p>\n
A medical team from the MER-C organization reported that about
\n40 Ba'asyir supporters were hurt in the clash. Two had to undergo
\nsurgery, one for a brain hemorrhage and the other for a fractured
\nskull.<\/p>\n
One of Ba'asyir's lawyers, Muhammad Ali, said the cleric had
\nrefused to read or sign the arrest warrant.<\/p>\n
The head of Ba'asyir's team of lawyers, Muhammad Asegaff, said
\nthat his client had already expressed his standpoint to Suyitno.
\nThe cleric had pledged to remain silent during questioning and
\nnot to sign any documents.<\/p>\n
Ba'asyir was initially sentenced to four years for involvement
\nin an alleged JI plot to overthrow the government but the court
\nsaid it was not convinced that he led the network. An appeal
\ncourt overturned the conviction but sentenced Ba'asyir to three-
\nyears imprisonment on immigration-related offenses. The Supreme
\nCourt halved that sentenced last month. The secretive JI group is
\nlisted by the UN as one of the world's most dangerous terrorist
\norganizations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scores-hurt-after-baasyirs-rearrest-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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