Ba'asyir sentence demand stands

Ba'asyir sentence demand stands

JAKARTA: Prosecutors reiterated their demand on Monday that
the Central Jakarta District Court sentence Muslim cleric Abu
Bakar Ba'asyir to 15 years in jail.

Chief prosecutor Hasan Madani told the court evidence was
solid to prove the defendant's guilt in subversion and violating
immigration law, such that he deserved to remain in jail for 15
years.

Ba'asyir, who chairs the hard-line Muslim group Mujahidin
Indonesia Council (MMI), had denied accusations of plotting to
assassinate then vice president Megawati Soekarnoputri in 1999,
which the prosecutors said was aimed at toppling the legitimate
government. He is also charged with manipulating counterfeiting?
a passport while in exile in Malaysia.

Presiding judge Mohammad Sholeh adjourned the trial until
Wednesday. The judges are expected to announce the verdict next
month. -- JP

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Scene-migrants
KL told to reject Acehnese
JP/4/scene

KL told to reject asylum seekers

JAKARTA: Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the Malaysian
government on Monday not to grant asylum too readily to Aceh
people.

"Malaysia is our good neighbor that supports our national
integrity and does not recognize the separatist movement in Aceh.
It would be better if both countries could communicate over the
recent problem," Susilo said after a Cabinet meeting.

He was responding to the case of 232 Acehnese people arrested
by Malaysian authorities when they rallied in front of the UN
High Commissioner for Refugees in Kuala Lumpur to seek asylum
last week. Some of them have agreed to go home.

Susilo said the issue would be raised by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri during her meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad this weekend on her visit to Kuala Lumpur. --JP