Jihad Force clarifies

With reference to a news report published in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 8, 2000 about the Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Jihad Force) in which it is said that Ayip Syafruddin (chairman of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah Communication Forum) failed to produce evidence regarding the partiality of the commander of A Sector of Ambon territory, Col. Agustinus Siwwanto, we wish to clarify that this is not the case.

When Ayip Syafruddin was interviewed by the Post on Nov. 7, 2000, he gave the written data to the interviewer. It was later reconfirmed through The Jakarta Post office in Yogyakarta that the data had been well received. Therefore it is unethical to say that the Ayip Syafruddin as the resource person failed to provide the necessary evidence.

HARDI IBNU HARUN

Chief of Information Division

Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamaah Communication Forum

Jakarta