Hamzah rapped for visiting detained Ja'far

Hamzah rapped for visiting detained Ja'far

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vice President Hamzah Haz's visit to detained Laskar Jihad
commander Ja'far Umar Thalib has drawn strong criticism from
leaders of the country's highest institutions.

Both People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung expressed concern
on Wednesday that the visit would affect the police investigation
into Ja'far's alleged role in recent violence in Ambon.

"Hamzah's visit could be considered political intervention and
pressure (on police investigators) because of his position as
Vice President," Amien said.

"I hope the police investigation will not be affected by the
Vice President's visit," said Akbar, adding that it was
impossible to separate Hamzah as an individual from Hamzah as the
Vice President.

Hamzah, who also chairs the Muslim-based United Development
Party (PPP), visited Ja'far at the National Police Headquarters
on Tuesday, raising speculation that the Vice President was
putting pressure on the police to release the Laskar Jihad
commander in order to win the support of Ja'far's followers in
the 2004 general election.

Ja'far was arrested on May 4 at Surabaya's Juanda airport on
charges linked to the April 28 attack on the Christian village of
Soya in Ambon, which resulted in at least 12 deaths. He also has
been charged with insulting President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Political observer Arbi Sanit said on Wednesday the visit gave
the impression, particularly to Ja'far's supporters, that the
Vice President sided with the detained Islamic militia leader.

He also said that Hamzah appeared to be making efforts to
widen his political influence, including by making overtures to
radical Muslims.

Sociologist Tamrin Amal Tomagola also slammed Hamzah's
actions.

He said that politically, the visit could be considered an
effort by the Vice President to show his support for the Laskar
Jihad commander.

Hamzah denied on Wednesday that he made any deals with Ja'far
in view of the elections in 2004.

"I went there as a Muslim. Part of Islamic unity is Islamic
brotherhood ... my visit was within that framework," Hamzah said.

"There were no political affairs discussed ... there were no
political deals," he insisted.

Leaders of the country's two largest Muslim organizations,
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, declined on Wednesday to
comment on the matter, suggesting that they needed more time to
consider the motives behind Hamzah's actions.

NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi said he would not comment on
Hamzah's visit before he received an explanation from the Vice
President.

"I don't want to guess, but I plan to ask Hamzah about this on
Saturday. Then I will let you know my opinion," Hasyim told The
Jakarta Post.

Hasyim did say that he thought Hamzah's actions had little
impact on the Muslim community, but declined to elaborate. "I
don't want to make baseless judgments."

Muhammadiyah chairman Syafi'i Ma'arif said that Hamzah's visit
was simply a humane action.

"We don't know what was behind the visit, but it is his right
to pay Ja'far a visit," he told the Post.

Syafi'i, however, refused to comment any further. "Just say
I'm reluctant to comment (on his visit)."

Muhammadiyah secretary-general Din Syamsudin said that
Hamzah's visit was not an extraordinary action.

"It is normal that Hamzah would visit a fellow Muslim in his
capacity as the chairman of the United Development Party," he
said.

He also said that it was not unusual for political leaders to
take actions that had political motives behind them.

"It is normal for political parties to gather support," he
said.

But Din said he was convinced that Hamzah's visit would not
impede the legal process against Ja'far.

"Hamzah emphasized that the legal process should proceed. I
believe his visit does not have any implications for the legal
process," he said.

Pressures continued to mount for the government to release
Ja'far as other Muslim leaders Abu Bakar Ba'asyir who heads the
Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), Habib Rizieq, Jakarta chief
of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), Ahmad Sumargono of the
Indonesian Committee for World Muslim Solidarity (Kisdi) visited
Ja'far on Thursday.