House urged to question BIN over Manila arrests

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives has been urged to summon the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) director for a hearing in connection with the arrest of several Indonesians abroad.

A former intelligence officer, Suripto, said on Saturday that BIN should clarify whether it was involved in the arrests, including those of Tamsil Linrung, Agus Dwikarna and Abdul Jamal Balfas in Manila.

"The hearing is necessary because the arrests were made based upon serious allegations that these Indonesians were involved with radical Muslim organizations, and were believed to have links with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda international terrorist group," said Suripto, a former officer of the National Coordinating Intelligence Body, which was BIN's predecessor, as quoted by Antara..

"If the House is reluctant to seek clarification from BIN, I'm afraid this country will only be used as a tool for other countries, like the United States, for the sake of their own interests."

Tamsil and Balfas have been released, while Agus remains in Philippine National Police detention for alleged possession of explosive materials.

The Philippine authorities arrested another Indonesian, Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, in January. He has since been sentenced by a court to six years imprisonment for immigration violations and 12 years for illegal possession of explosives. He is to soon face another trial for his alleged involvement in a Manila bombing in 2000, which left 22 people dead.

Another Indonesian, Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, has been labeled dangerous by Singapore and Malaysia for his alleged links to al-Qaeda.

Tamsil said after his arrival home on Friday that he would demand a clarification from BIN officers, whom he believed were behind the arrests. Tamsil, also a former deputy treasurer of the National Mandate Party, said he was informed by Philippine police officers during interrogation that "the most important Indonesian intelligence official had already been notified of the arrest."

BIN chief A.M. Hendropriyono has denied allegations that he had a hand in the arrests. He also said there was no need to clarify the matter with Tamsil.

"Considering that this intelligence body is funded by the Indonesian people, the House must control its activities and budget so as to avoid it from abusing its powers," said Suripto, currently an advisory director to the Institute of Indonesian Defense and Strategic Studies (Lesperssi).

But Ibrahim Ambong, chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission I for political, security, and foreign affairs, dismissed the call for a hearing with BIN.

Ambong said the House had previously met with Hendropriyono over the Manila arrests, during which meeting the latter had disclosed that the Philippine police had no evidence of Tamsil's involvement in any crime or terrorist activities.

Ambong said his commission had already arranged other hearings which were more important than summoning Hendropriyono when the House reconvened in May.

"There are more important agendas already set, including a hearing with the minister/ state secretary and a discussion with Indonesian Military commanders concerning leadership issues."

"It's not so necessary to clarify rumors, is it? But if Tamsil insists on seeking clarification, or even filing a suit against the Philippine government, then of course we will support him," Ambong, of the Golkar Party, told The Jakarta Post.