Tamsil Linrung, Abdul Jamal Balfas seek clarification on their case
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."