Fathur has no links to al-Qaeda: Da'i
Fathur has no links to al-Qaeda: Da'i
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar was another state
official to deny speculation that an Indonesian arrested in the
Philippines, Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, has links to Osama bin
Laden's al-Qaeda network.
Da'i said that based on a preliminary investigation in the
Philippines, no evidence had been found regarding Fathur's links
to the alleged terrorist network.
"He (Fathur) gave no information on his link to the activities
of al-Qaeda," Da'i told reporters after a hearing with Commission
II for security affairs here on Monday.
The police chief said he had received the information from two
Indonesian police officers who are currently joining the
investigation in the Philippines.
Da'i (right photo above) addressed the legislators on security
across the country, including reports of the presence of
terrorist cells in Indonesia.
His statement underscored previous remarks from foreign
minister Hassan Wirajuda who denied rumors of activities of the
al-Qaeda network in Indonesia.
At that time Hassan said the government could only declare
Fathur's involvement in cross-border terrorist activities.
Fathur was arrested on Jan. 15 after Philippine authorities
found him in possession of five different passports -- one of
them issued by Surakarta's immigration office on Aug.14, 2000
under the name of Ronny Azad Ahmad.
The immigration office in Surakarta, Central Java, said that
Fathur used fake identification to procure a passport.
Da'i said that the Indonesian government had pledged to the
global war against international terrorism.
"If there are reports of alleged involvement of our citizens
in the terrorist network, we will investigate them," Da'i said.
He was apparently referring to the recent questioning of Muslim
cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, following a statement issued by
Malaysian authorities on his alleged role in treason activities
in the country.
Da'i added the police would continue to investigate in
cooperation with their counterparts in Southeast Asian countries.
The cooperation, he said, would involve ministers or senior
officials in the forum of ministerial meeting on transnational
crime (MMTC).
The National Police Inspectorate General's Comr. Gen. Ahwil
Luthan has said that Fathur's case would be tried in the
Philippines because the crime was committed in that country.