Dutch police slammed for seeking scapegoats

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands J.B. Soedarmanto Kadarisman has complained bitterly that the Dutch police were seeking scapegoats when they accused Indonesian diplomats of being involved in Ecstasy trafficking.

"They (the police) are only seeking scapegoats. Their accusations have not been backed by concrete evidence," Kadarisman was quoted by Antara as saying Tuesday evening.

The ambassador also strove to ease concerns on a possible wrangle over diplomatic immunity in the police investigation. "We are willing to be examined according to Dutch law," he said.

Kadarisman objected to the "anti-Indonesia tone" of Dutch newspaper reports on the arrest of a Garuda Indonesia pilot for allegedly trying to smuggle 8,000 Ecstasy pills out of the Netherlands, and the subsequent accusation that Indonesian diplomats were involved.

The ambassador told his staff not to worry about the reports.

"This is a challenge for us as a fighting nation. We have to show The Hague that we're not a nation that can be treated the way it was under colonialism 51 years ago," Kadarisman said.

The Dutch major newspaper, De Telegraaf, on Monday quoted the police as saying that Indonesian Embassy staff were involved in an Ecstasy smuggling ring. The paper said police suspected "the secretary of the trade attache" as being the ringleader of an Ecstasy trafficking group.

The police earlier arrested Garuda pilot Mohammad Said, 49, at Schiphol Airport for trying to smuggle 8,000 Ecstasy pills to Jakarta.

During his first few days of arrest, Said was reportedly abused and denied legal counsel during interrogation.

Kadarisman said De Telegraaf and other newspaper reports insulted Indonesians. "The Hague has often called itself the champion of human rights. In this case, however, its police have treated their suspect inhumanely," he said.

Indonesia's Defense Attache at the embassy Col. Lutfhie said he suspects that anti-Indonesia campaigners were taking advantage of the case by using The Hague media to tarnish Indonesia.

He cited a group called Front Komando Waspada who last August threatened to embarrass and kill Indonesian diplomats. "From it (the terror), we can see links between the threat and the anti- Indonesia reports now," Lutfhie said. (ste)