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.