Australian police question Indonesians

Australian police question Indonesians

JAKARTA: The Australian government has questioned 23 Indonesians following Australian-wide raids against suspected members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on Friday that 11 of the 23 Indonesians were permanent Australian residents.

Following the questioning, one Indonesian, Fadly Jaya Basri, was detained for overstaying, not because of possible links to any terrorist network, Marty said.

He said Fadly was arrested on Nov. 13 and has had access to a lawyer and an official from the Indonesian embassy.

Marty said Indonesia had asked Australia to give the Indonesian embassy notice of any arrest or interrogation of Indonesian nationals, so the detained could be given the necessary legal counsel or adviser.

"The report was given to us on Nov. 6," he said.

The raid was conducted by the Australian authorities following the Bali bombing on Oct. 12, which killed more than 190 people, mostly Australian holiday makers. --JP