Police apologize for damage to Muhammadiyah Hospital
Police apologize for damage to Muhammadiyah Hospital
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surakarta
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has apologized for all
negative impacts resulting from the removal of terror suspect Abu
Bakar Ba'asyir from the Muhammadiyah hospital in Surakarta on
Monday.
Speaking to journalists after meeting Vice President Hamzah
Haz on Thursday, Da'i said police had no option but to take
Ba'asyir by force for the sake of the investigation.
"We apologized to Muhammadiyah hospital and Muslim leaders
because we had no choice because of the limited time and the
presence of Ba'asyir's supporters outside the hospital," Da'i
said, adding police would pay for any damage to the hospital.
Ba'asyir, removed from hospital ten days after he was first
admitted for respiratory problem, is suspected of plotting to
assassinate President Megawati Soekarnoputri and being behind the
Christmas bomb attacks in Jakarta in 2000.
Both charges carry the death penalty under the criminal Code.
Ba'asyir's supporters were involved in a violent clash with
the police following the removal of Ba'asyir. Six people,
including three Ba'asyir supporters were injured in the incident.
Parts of the hospital were damaged to allow police to reach the
hospital's VIP room where Ba'asyir was being treated.
Da'i insisted police would monitor Ba'asyir's health during
the interrogation. "We are considering interrogating him at the
Police hospital where he is being treated," he said.
He asked Ba'asyir's lawyers to cooperate during the
interrogation so it could be conducted as soon as possible.
National Police Deputy Chief Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said Ba'asyir
had "a sore throat", which meant questioning could not go ahead
on Thursday.
"The police's medical team advised us to give him two or three
days to rest and recover from his throat ailment," he said
Prasetyo said Ba'asyir would be questioned when his health
improved.
Differing form his superior, Prasetyo said police would likely
interrogate Ba'asyir at police headquarters which had been
prepared for his arrival.
Commenting on the possibility that Ba'asyir would maintain his
silence, Prasetyo said: "It will be disadvantages for him to keep
silent."
In Surakarta, an alliance of Muslim organizations (UIS)
condemned police conduct during Ba'asyir's removal, saying the
government should discharge Prasetyo who led the operation.
UIS also refused to cooperate with the police inquiry, saying
police had terrorized the Muslim people.