Politics mars Ecstasy case in Holland: Envoy
Politics mars Ecstasy case in Holland: Envoy
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia insisted yesterday the Ecstasy
trafficking case involving an Indonesian pilot in the Netherlands
had been marred by political influences.
Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands J.B. Sudarmanto
Kadarisman told reporters after a meeting with President Soeharto
yesterday that certain anti-Indonesian groups, in cooperation
with people within the Dutch government, might have taken
advantage of the Ecstasy case to disgrace Indonesia.
Mohammad Said, a senior pilot with national airline Garuda
Indonesia, was arrested at a Netherlands airport last September
after anti-narcotics police found him carrying 8,000 Ecstasy
pills.
His trial began in Amsterdam this month, after the Dutch
government rejected Indonesia's bid for extradition. The next
hearing will be held in April.
Kadarisman said efforts sought by the anti-Indonesia group had
obviously been systematically conducted. Citing an example, he
cited charges laid on a colonel at the Indonesian Embassy that he
was involved in the case.
"This is exaggerating. They (the group) have illegally used
our diplomatic bags only to tarnish Indonesia's image,"
Kadarisman lamented.
He said he had repeatedly complained about media reports on
the Ecstasy case he said were aimed at putting Indonesia in the
hot seat.
"Just to mention a name, De Telegraaf's reports written by
John van de Heuvel (on the alleged Ecstasy trafficking) proved to
contain no legal aspects, but several political aspects,"
Kadarisman said.
The Indonesian Embassy released a statement denying the
alleged involvement of Indonesian diplomats, sent to local press,
diplomatic circles and to parliament members on Jan. 6.
Kadarisman said President Soeharto had supported release of the
statement.
He added Indonesia expected the Dutch government to take
action against all defamation attempts conducted by the group.
"We have raised our objection, but they said they could do
nothing but to let the freedom of the press live," said
Kadarisman.
Friendship
Kadarisman said he returned home for several "general
consultative meetings" with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
Alatas, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono and Armed Forces chief
Gen. Feisal Tanjung.
He said he reported to the President that bilateral relations
between Indonesia and the Netherlands were "good", despite the
Ecstasy case.
"We consider the case a small ripple which commonly happens
within a relationship. Discrepancies may occur but we remain
friends," he said.
New Year visits by Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
and Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro had
provided evidence of the amicable relationship, Kadarisman said.
Kadarisman said protecting an Indonesian citizen from
mistreatment was all the Indonesian Embassy could do in the case
of this trial.
"We do not intend to let him (Said) evade the law, although
charges against him have yet to be proved," Kadarisman said.
(amd)
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