Embassy considers bailing out Indonesians
Embassy considers bailing out Indonesians
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian Embassy officials in Manila are discussing the
possibility of paying US$4,000 to secure bail bonds for three
Indonesian nationals arrested in the Philippines, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday.
Agus Dwikarna, Tamsil Linrung and Abdul Jamal Balfas were
taken into custody at Ninoy Aquino Airport in Manila on Sunday
for possession of components to make a C4 bomb, one of the most
powerful of all military explosives, an allegation which has been
denied by the three Indonesians.
"We are studying the pros and cons of getting the men bailed
out of jail. We are also discussing this with the arrested men,"
Hassan told reporters at the State Palace on Wednesday.
The bail will not grant the men immunity for their alleged
crimes, or allow them to leave the Philippines. They would only
be permitted to stay outside the penitentiary pending legal
action, Hassan said.
"I have instructed our embassy officials to investigate the
matter, and to try and find out whether the bomb-making material
really belonged to the men ... and whether these men were present
when their luggage was being inspected," Hassan said.
Hassan's remarks were clear indications that he harbored
suspicions that the parts could conceivably have been planted in
the men's luggage without their knowledge or consent.
The three Indonesians reportedly told Philippine police
investigators that they came to the country at the request of a
Thai businessman who was running a coal mining operation.
National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang
said that National police detectives and Indonesian intelligence
officials were scheduled to leave for the Philippines on Thursday
for a one-week visit.
He had said earlier that Indonesian police needed to speak
with the three men to find out how they ended with having bomb-
making components inside their luggage.
The police will also explore the possibility of ties between
the three men and another Indonesian, explosives expert Fathur
Rohman al-Ghozi, who remains in detention after his arrest in
Manila this January.
Philippine police have said that the four Indonesians are
members of the alleged al-Qaeda-linked group, Jemaah Islamiyah.
Agus is also known as a member of the advisory board of the
Committee for the Preparation of the Enforcement of Islamic
Sharia (KPPSI) in South Sulawesi.
In Makassar, senior members of the KPPSI met on Wednesday with
South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna and South Sulawesi
councillor Edy Baramuli demanding that they vouch for Agus and
Tamsil as being good Indonesian citizens.
After the meeting, Palaguna said that not only did he welcome
the visitors, but that he personally knew both Agus and Tamsil
were "good Indonesian citizens."
"I will make sure to speak with concerned institutions on
Thursday, on the possible deportation of the three men," Palaguna
told reporters.
KPPSI executive member Azwar Hassan told reporters that he was
also trying to contact South Sulawesi Police Chief Insp. Gen.
Firman Gani to convey Agus' message to Azwar that all three
arrested Indonesians did not know how the bomb-making components
were placed in their luggage.
Former defense minister Juwono Sudarsono, meanwhile, supported
the government's move to provide the arrested Indonesian with
legal assistance.
The effort, he said, would protect the legal rights of the
Indonesians, while helping to solve the case. "Clear evidence
must be sought to prove whether or not the three Indonesians are
terrorists," he said on Tuesday.
He added that terrorism was universal, and should not be
linked solely to one particular religion.