Transparent process

Transparent process

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir's case is very complicated. The clash between his supporters and police officers when he was taken out of the hospital in Surakarta and brought to Jakarta could be cited as an example.

The legal proceedings involving the senior Muslim cleric must be transparent, clear and conducted in a humane way.

Wisdom and awareness are needed to deal with the complex case that may have political overtones.

Vice President Hamzah Haz and Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have said that the principle of presumption of innocence (for Ba'asyir) must be respected.

There is a possibility that certain parties will use Ba'asyir's case as a means to destroy the nation. We must be aware that many (political) parties have used the problem (the arrest and legal proceedings against Ba'asyir) to gain momentum to prepare their moves for the 2004 election.

The Oct. 12 Bali blast has obviously affected our relations with other countries. Aid programs, cooperation and investment deals have become very difficult to materialize after the bombing.

Careless handling of Ba'asyir's case could worsen the situation. We demand that law and justice must be upheld in this case. The legal proceedings must not be conducted half way in order to get a clear picture of what really happened.

-- Kompas, Jakarta