Scapegoat claim by RI suspects

Scapegoat claim by RI suspects

Yogita Tahilramani and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dismissed speculation on Wednesday that
the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) was behind the recent arrests
of three Indonesians in Manila possession of bomb materials.

Speculation arose after one of the arrested men, Tamsil
Linrung, who is the former treasurer of the National Mandate
Party (PAN), contacted a number of reporters in Jakarta stating
that the arrests were a result of "engineered information"
provided by BIN officers to Philippine authorities.

"This is the doing of a prominent intelligence official. I
have been made a scapegoat... I have been trapped. When I come
back to Jakarta, I will disclose this to the public," Tamsil told
a number of senior reporters in the capital.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting on political and
security affairs, Susilo further asserted on Wednesday that such
an allegation was untrue since investigation into the three
Indonesians had yet come to any conclusion.

"Some days ago, speculation was rife in the media that we (the
government) have played a role in the arrest of those three
Indonesians by supplying intelligence information to the
Philippine police... We would not go that far," Susilo said.

Tamsil, Abdul Jamal Balfas and Agus Dwikarna were nabbed on
March 15 at Ninoy Aquino Airport as they were heading to
Thailand. They are charged with illegal possession of explosives
and immigration violations.

Rumors have lately circulated that BIN officials had told
Philippine authorities that the three men were allegedly members
of al-Qaeda-linked Indonesian Muslim groups.

The same denials were voiced by National Police Chief Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar, who said that police sent to meet the men in the
Philippines had yet to find clear reasons behind the arrests.

"We are considering filing a formal objection against the
arrests, but we need more evidence and time," Da'i told
reporters.

Ironically, PAN deputy chairman A.M. Fatwa said he was
notified of the arrests by two BIN officials.

"The officials stated that Tamsil had been arrested for
carrying a bomb... but then, we found out that, this was not the
case," Fatwa told reporters on Wednesday.