'Indonesia respects RP court verdict'
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Makassar
Demands for the government to use diplomatic channels to seek the release of Agus Dwikarna, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison by a Philippine court, are unrealistic and contradict international codes, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda says.
"There are international codes that we have to respect, including the laws of other countries. If we ask them to release Agus, we are intervening in the legal process of a sovereign country," Hassan was quoted by Antara as saying here on Wednesday.
Citing Malaysia's nonintervention in the case of a Malaysian national who was sentenced to death for his involvement in a series of bombings in Jakarta, Hassan stressed that Indonesia also should avoid interference in other country's legal affairs.
There has been increased pressure from some quarters for the government to embark on high-level diplomatic talks to win the freedom of Agus, who was sentenced in Manila for the illegal possession of explosives.
A deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, A.M. Fatwa, interrupted a consultation meeting on Tuesday between President Megawati Soekarnoputri and leaders of the House of Representatives to ask the President about what steps were being taken to secure Agus' release.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, dozens of students from the Gowa Muslim Student Alliance (AMIG) staged a protest at the provincial legislative building to demand the government intercede in Agus' case.
AMIG coordinator Acha Wijaya said the government's failure to help Agus would come back to haunt the country.
"It is possible that Agus' case will be exploited by other countries as justification to arrest Indonesians abroad, because the government does not care to defend its citizens," Acha told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Hassan, however, denied allegations that the government has done little to help Agus.
"I reject accusations that (the government) did not help in Agus' defense. We provided him a translator and monitored his health while the legal process was taking place," he said.
Meanwhile, the Committee for the Implementation of Sharia (KSPI) said on Wednesday the government should defend Agus because his case had political undertones.
"It would be better if the government spoke with (Philippine) President Arroyo," KPSI secretary-general Azwar Hasan told the Post Wednesday.
He also said his organization would try and enlist members of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to urge the President to secure Agus' release.
"By taking a persuasive approach with local officials from PDI Perjuangan, I'm sure our concerns will be heard by Megawati," he said.