Megawati pressed to act in Agus case

Megawati pressed to act in Agus case

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Makassar

Pressure is building for President Megawati Soekarnoputri to
intervene in the case of Agus Dwikarna, an Indonesian national
jailed in the Philippines for illegal possession of explosives.

Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives A.M. Fatwa
said here on Monday that he would urge Megawati and foreign
affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda to take the necessary diplomatic
steps to secure the release of Agus.

"Through the media we urge the minister for foreign affairs to
talk to his Philippine counterpart. We will also ask the
President to do the same," Fatwa was quoted by Antara as saying.

Fatwa said he, together with a number of legislators, would
meet the Philippine charge d'affairs in Jakarta to ask for
clarification about the verdict.

"We had planned to ask for clarification last week but we
could only do it now as we had to wait for confirmation from the
government," said Fatwa.

He said Agus' case was highly political, thus the need for
diplomatic action.

Agus was sentenced to up to 17 years in prison last Friday by
a Philippine court in Manila for illegal possession of
explosives.

He was arrested in March at Manila airport along with
compatriot Abdul Jamal Balfas and Tamsil Linrung while about to
board a flight to Bangkok. Philippine Police found explosive
devices in their luggage.

Agus had also been implicated in deadly bomb attacks in Manila
in December 2001 and a bomb attack on the Philippine Embassy in
Jakarta in the same year.

Agus' lawyers said on Friday they would appeal.

Minister Hassan Wirayuda said last Friday the government would
ensure that Agus' rights were not violated, but stressed that it
would not interfere in the judicial process.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, where Agus hails from, a number
of mass organizations, student groups and political parties
rallied outside the governor's office and local legislative
building to demand the central government provide protection for
Agus and secure his release.

South Sulawesi legislative body received three groups
representing the Student Executive Council (BEM) of Makassar
State University (BEM UNM), South Sulawesi Youth for National
Mandate Implementation (BM PAN) and the Preparation Committee for
Islamic Sharia Implementation (KPPSI).

BEM UNM urged the Indonesian government to immediately provide
protection for Agus whom they consider is being prosecuted in the
Philippines.

BM PAN also expressed a similar view and urged the National
Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to "fight" for Agus'
release.

Members of KPPSI's South Sulawesi branch rallied outside the
provincial legislative council demanding councillor chairman Amin
Syam meet Governor H.Z.B. Palaguna to voice the people's
rejection of the 20-year prison term for Agus.

Carrying banners reading: Agus is Entitled to Protection,
Agus' Verdict Violates Human Rights," the protesters condemned
the Philippine government for what they called injustice against
Muslim activists.

They urged Governor Palaguna to fulfill his promise to meet
Philippine government officials to free Agus from all charges.

The protesters also appealed to President Megawati to talk to
her Philippine counterpart President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to
free Agus from his prison term and fine.

According to them, the government had done nothing to secure
Agus' release.