Tamsil Linrung, Abdul Jamal Balfas seek clarification on their case

Yogita Tahilramani and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two Indonesians who had been arrested in Manila returned home on Friday demanding clarification from the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), whom they believe was behind their incarceration.

Former deputy treasurer of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Tamsil Linrung and businessman Abdul Jamal Balfas said they hoped to meet BIN chief A.M. Hendropriyono or whoever could represent BIN to verify reports that their arrest and the arrest of another friend, Agus Dwikarna, on March 13 were made upon Jakarta's request.

The two are also considering filing a suit against the Philippine government for the wrongful arrest and pledge not to rest until Agus is released and the charges against him dropped as well.

"During questioning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) officers said they were forced to question us, based on intelligence orders from Indonesia. When they locked our cells, they said that it was based on orders as well," Tamsil told a press conference at the Islamic Propagation Council (DDI) Headquarters here, shortly upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Also welcoming the duo at the DDI office was Supreme Advisory Council chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro.

Agus, Tamsil and Jamal were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino Airport in Manila as they were heading for Bangkok, for the alleged possession of materials to make a bomb. They were then also accused of immigration violations.

While Tamsil and Jamal were released without charges, thanks in part to President Megawati Soekarnoputri's intervention, Agus remains under detention and will stand trial on May 8.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has vowed to speed up Agus's trial and to study his dossiers, before she can consider his possible release.

National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar recently said Agus was involved in the bombing of haj dormitory in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar last year.

Tamsil said he learned of Jakarta's involvement in his and his friends' arrest only five minutes after PNP officers arrested them at the airport in Manila.

During interrogation, PNP officers stressed that this was a result of political conditions in Indonesia, Tamsil recollected.

"The officers asked me questions about Indonesia ... I told them that I had come here on business.

"I asked if I should contact the Indonesian Ambassador to Manila over this matter. But the officers told me that there was no need, because, the most influential Indonesian intelligence official had already been notified of this. They never told me who this intelligence official was."

Much later during further interrogation, Tamsil said, the three were asked about radical and possibly terrorist activities in Indonesia and what they knew of them.

Both Tamsil and Jamal arrived home to a heroes welcome at the Soekarno-Hatta airport as waiting Muslim activists cheered their return.

Separately, BIN Chief A.M. Hendropriyono denied all allegations that he or BIN had provided incriminating intelligence information to the PNP and the Philippine Intelligence Service.

Hendropriyono, a normally frank military general who has recently been shying away from the press, finally commented on Friday that Tamsil had "no knowledge about these matters."

"I guess Tamsil does not understand enough, and that is why he blamed me ... blamed the Indonesian intelligence for being involved in his arrest," Hendropriyono told reporters, after handing over the chairmanship of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) Alumni to Agum Gumelar, the Minister of Transportation.

Asked whether he would meet with Tamsil to clarify the matter, Hendropriyono said: "No. I have no plans to meet him."