Manila wants to send Agus Dwikarna home

Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Manila might send home convicted Indonesian Agus Dwikarna, whom the Philippine courts sentenced to 10 years in jail for possessing explosives, under a prisoner exchange deal President Megawati Soekarnoputri has called a "good idea".

Visiting Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ople F. Blas said on Wednesday that Agus' return depended on Jakarta approving its prisoner exchange offer.

"I told Megawati that Dwikarna is enjoying all his rights and is being treated humanely," Ople told reporters after he met Megawati at the State Palace. He was on a two day visit, which ended Wednesday.

A Philippine court last May sentenced Agus to 10 years in prison after he was caught at the Manila airport in possession of explosives. The Philippine authorities also charged him with having links with terrorist networks operating in Southeast Asia.

Asked when he might be sent home, Ople said: "We are awaiting the response of the Indonesian government on this initiative; the ball is in their court."

Manila's prisoner swap proposal comes after its arrest of Agus prompted his supporters here to launch protests at the Philippine embassy.

The Philippine government has warned its citizens in Indonesia to remain cautious and appealed to Agus' supporters not to harm them.

Both countries, homes to several Islamic radical groups, are seen as crucial to the U.S. in its global war against terrorism.

Supporters of Agus claim he was arrested following a tip-off from the Indonesian military, which was at that time coming under fire for not doing enough to crack down on suspected terrorists here.

In Manila, a senior foreign affairs department source said on Monday that the Philippines hoped to ease the protests by sending Agus back to Indonesia, AFP news agency reported.

The news agency quoted a report by the International Crisis Group, which said the evidence against Agus was almost certainly planted.

Agus has appealed his conviction, the hearing of which will start later this month.

On Tuesday, Ople submitted a draft agreement to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the exchange of prisoners between the two countries.

Ople said he hoped to have six Filipinos sent home who were convicted for fuel smuggling, and who have been jailed in Tarakan, East Kalimantan.

Under the draft, he said, convicted citizens of both countries would be allowed to serve the remainder of their jail terms in their homelands.

"I explained (to Megawati) a bit about the Philippine proposal which has been transmitted officially to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a bilateral agreement on the transfer of sentenced prisoners," he said. "She said it looked like a good idea."

The details of the draft agreement as yet remain unclear.

Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda, who was not present when Ople met Megawati, said earlier that the proposal would first be discussed with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and the Supreme Court.