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.