VP silent to demand for Jihad cheif release<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri refused to
\nrespond to the Muhammadiyah youth organization's request for the
\nrelease of Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah commander Ja'far
\nUmar Thalib.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a media briefing after meeting Megawati in her
\noffice on Monday, the organization's deputy chairman, Nadjamuddin
\nRamly, said that Ja'far should be released as his arrest violated
\nlegal procedure.<\/p>\n
\"Regarding our demand, actually Ibu Megawati did not give any
\nanswer, but the bottom line is that we have conveyed our demand
\nfor his release. For us, he should not be detained by the
\npolice,\" Nadjamuddin told journalists.<\/p>\n
He further said that Ja'far should be entitled to the same
\ntreatment by police as was given to a suspect accused of similar
\ncrimes during riots in Central Kalimantan. He pledged that the
\nMuhammadiyah youth group was prepared to provide a guarantee that
\nJa'far would not flee.<\/p>\n
\"If Kamaluddin Usop from Central Kalimantan was released then
\nJa'far should also be released. We have urged the government that
\nshould Ja'far undergo legal procedures in accordance with
\nnational law, then it should be done properly,\" Nadjmuddin said.<\/p>\n
\"We are ready to be his guarantor as we believe he will not
\nescape,\" Nadjamuddin remarked.<\/p>\n
Police arrested Ja'far earlier this month on charges of
\ninciting religious hatred in the country and causing fatal
\ninjuries to one of his men.<\/p>\n
He would be charged according to Paragraph a of Article 156a
\nof the Criminal Code on inciting religious hatred in Indonesia,
\nand Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, with
\na maximum punishment of five years and 20 years in jail,
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
In front of the House of Representatives, dozens of Muslims,
\ncarrying huge banners, staged a protest demanding the release of
\nJa'far.<\/p>\n
Similar incidents happened in Bandung, the capital of West
\nJava, as hundreds of Muslims, calling themselves members of the
\nAhlussunnah Wal Jamaah Communication Forum, staged a protest at
\nthe Islamic Teaching Center Mosque, demanding Ja'far's release.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the forum, Ayib Syafruddin, charged that the
\narrest of Ja'far was politically motivated and was an effort to
\ndefame the name of Laskar Jihad. (25\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vp-silent-to-demand-for-jihad-cheif-release-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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