Confusion reigns over al-Faruq's extradition

Confusion reigns over al-Faruq's extradition

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Confusion reigned on Monday over the status of suspected
terrorist Omar al-Faruq when Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
Wirayuda said, in contradiction to earlier remarks by other
officials, that his extradition to the U.S. was not linked to the
government's efforts against terrorism.

"What really happened was just a common deportation, because
of immigration regulation violations. Everyday our immigration
does that (deports people)," Hassan told reporters on the
sidelines of a hearing with the House of Representatives
Commission I on politics, security and foreign affairs.

Hassan's statement supported an earlier claim by Minister of
Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who said the move
(against al-Faruq) had nothing to do with allegations that al-
Faruq was part of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network in
the region.

"Al-Faruq cannot be declared a terrorist because Indonesia has
yet to have an antiterrorism law. We deported him because he was
accused of violating immigration law. We did not charge him as a
terrorist because such a charge has no legal basis here," Yusril
said.

Hassan and Yusril's statements conflicted with earlier claims
by security authorities, who insisted that al-Faruq was an
Indonesian citizen wanted by the U.S. government for terrorist
acts in the U.S. even prior to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Al-Faruq was therefore arrested and deported from Indonesia as
part of an intelligence operation involving Indonesia's
intelligence service and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of
the U.S.

"The arrest was the result of cooperation between the
Indonesian police and intelligence as well as foreign
intelligence sources under a cooperation framework in the fight
against terrorism," Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quoted by this
newspaper as saying last week.

Susilo insisted that the move was part of intensified attempts
to crack down on terrorism in the country. Many believe that the
operation against al-Faruq was mounted after the authorities
accepted a document from the CIA which revealed a plot to
assassinate President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Religious leaders and politicians here have questioned the
credibility of the document, arguing that it could be fabricated
by the U.S. as part of a disinformation campaign directed at
Indonesia.

They have demanded that the U.S. provide clear and solid proof
of its recent claims that terrorist cells were operating in
Indonesia and that they were threatening the lives of foreigners
in the country.

Responding to the mounting criticism, Susilo defended his
stance on Monday, saying that the authorities would never sit
back and let the country be intimidated by any kind of threat
involving terrorist activities.

"I heard that the government has been urged to take a clear
stance over terrorism issues. But I guess the public already
knows it," Susilo said, without elaborating.

Susilo made the remark after holding a special meeting with
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and State Intelligence
Agency (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono.

The conflicting statements by Cabinet ministers have once
again shown inconsistency on part of government officials in
dealing with the issue. The country's intelligence apparatus have
also been under fire for the way they conduct the war on
terrorism. Legal experts have warned that the operations
conducted by the country's intelligence service are prone to
rights abuses, while legislators suspect the move is being made
under pressure from the U.S.

On Monday, 22 members of Commission I signed a petition
rejecting any form of U.S. intervention, especially relating to
the issue of terrorism.

Brushing aside comments that the country had bowed to U.S.
pressure, Yusril said that Indonesia would not surrender a
militant Islamic leader widely accused of terror plots.

He was quoted in the Republika daily as saying last week that
Indonesia would not authorize the extradition of Abubakar
Ba'asyir, linked by Time magazine to an alleged threat against
U.S. embassies in Jakarta and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

"Who accuses him of being a terrorist? It's a new accusation
from the United States. We can't accept it just like that because
we don't yet have an antiterrorism law," Yusril said, adding that
his ministry would defend Ba'asyir.

Ba'asyir is chairman of the Indonesian Mujahidin Council, an
umbrella organization that advocates Islamic law.

He was reported to have contact with al-Faruq, whom the CIA
say admitted to being the Southeast Asian kingpin of the al-Qaeda
terror network.

Singapore has labeled Ba'asyir a leader of alleged terrorist
organization Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).