VP Hamzah lashes out at his critics<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz lashed out at his critics on Friday,
\ncalling un-Islamic those who disapproved of his visit to detained
\nLaskar Jihad commander Ja'far Umar Thalib.<\/p>\n
\"If one is a Muslim, one would not criticize me over the visit
\nbecause, according to Islam, if bad times befall a man, then we
\nas Muslims are obliged to help him,\" Hamzah told reporters after
\nFriday prayers.<\/p>\n
He also brushed aside suggestions that his visit to Ja'far had
\nhurt his relationship with President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who
\nhas been accused by some Muslim leaders of engineering Ja'far's
\narrest.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, who is also chairman of the Muslim-based United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), has come under strong criticism over his
\ndecision to visit Ja'far at the Jakarta Police Headquarters on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais
\naccused Hamzah of intervening in the investigation process, while
\nsome political analysts suggested that Hamzah was trying to win
\nthe support of Muslims in the lead up to the 2004 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Ja'far was arrested at Surabaya's Juanda Airport last Saturday
\non charges of provoking violence in troubled province Ambon.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday that the government fully
\nsupported any legal process against Ja'far and chairman of the
\nproindependence Maluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM) Alex Munuputty.<\/p>\n
\"We (the government) will not interfere in the police
\ninvestigation of Ja'far, nor that of Alex. Should they be
\nreleased by the police, it must be based on the law,\" Susilo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He underlined that the arrest of Ja'far and Alex was necessary
\nas part of efforts to eliminate violence in the region following
\nthe signing of the Malino II peace accord in February.<\/p>\n
\"We consider the groups to be part of the problem as they
\nconduct a kind of provocation that recreates new violence and
\nconflict there. I know there have been various reactions to the
\narrest as some tried to express their solidarity.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the about 210 million people of Indonesia will
\nunderstand that the arrests are merely part of the legal process.
\nThere are no political deals behind it,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PPP Jakarta chief Azwar Abbas submitted a written
\nrequest to the Jakarta Police Headquarters on Friday seeking
\nJa'far's release.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Ja'far, who is still wearing his white tunic and
\nwhite turban, received at least 100 Laskar Jihad members on
\nFriday. He hugged each of his supporters as they arrived to greet
\nhim.<\/p>\n
Other visitors on Friday included House of Representatives
\n(DPR) deputy speaker A.M. Fatwa, who stated that Ja'far should be
\nreleased from police detention and that he was ready to become a
\nguarantor for Ja'far.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vp-hamzah-lashes-out-at-his-critics-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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