Minister to discuss Bestari case

Minister to discuss Bestari case

JAKARTA: State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim said
on Tuesday he would discuss the arrest of environmentalist
Bestari Raden and his possible transfer to Banda Aceh or Jakarta,
with National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar soon.

Bestari's lawyer, Kurniawan Adinugroho, said his client had
refused to be questioned at the Southeast Aceh police precinct
due to "his personal conflict with the police chief in the past."

Nabiel questioned the arrest of Bestari over his alleged
involvement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

"It doesn't quite make sense that he dared to visit Aceh while
he was on the police's most-wanted list there," Nabiel said.

Bestari was arrested on March 23 while visiting the war-torn
province as a member of a government team assigned to evaluate
the feasibility of the controversial Ladia Galaska highway
project. Nabiel's office was among the government institutions
that assigned Bestari to Aceh. -- JP