U.S. unfair treatment of Agus Budiman
U.S. unfair treatment of Agus Budiman
Surprisingly, Agus Budiman (31), an Indonesian citizen, has been subjected to investigations and detention by U.S. authorities for alleged involvement in terrorist acts on the WTC and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
While the truth of this case must be established in a court trial to be held on Nov. 30, Budiman seems to have been cornered after being interrogated for overstaying his visa and violating his work permit. (Generally U.S. authorities deport illegal workers only when the law is violated.)
In Budiman's case, his violation seems to have been developed to substantiate U.S. authorities' suspicions.
Budiman reportedly helped Mohammad bin Nasser Belfas obtain a forged driver's license. Belfas is suspected as the contact person for Osama bin Laden, the main suspect, according to the U.S., behind the Sept. 11 tragedy.
Belfas is on the U.S. wanted list in connection with the terrorist acts. He and Budiman reportedly studied architecture in Hamburg University, Germany, and went to the U.S. in October 2000 to find jobs.
As the U.S. is still gripped by great fear caused by the magnitude of the Sept. 11 tragedy, emotion still runs high among Americans. Still, the U.S. authorities are expected to show prudence and accord Budiman a fair, honest and open trial.
We are not defending Budiman because he is Indonesian. We simply insist that he be tried fairly and objectively as neither he nor anybody else should fall victim to prejudice.
Budiman's trial must somehow be based on prejudice, which is common in attempts to uncover a terrorist network. It often happens that security apparatuses identify the wrong person. So, the principle of presumption of innocence must always be upheld.
Traumatized by the Sept. 11 terrorist acts and the anthrax terror, Americans seem to have developed an unfavorable opinion of Budiman. Excessive fear has made them suspicious of foreigners.
At this point, it is interesting to observe how the September 11 tragedy has changed Americans' behavior. They support the government even if it places security above democracy, human rights and the presumption of innocence, to the extent that the U.S. now resembles a police state. The impact of the Sept. 11 tragedy is extraordinary indeed!
-- Kompas, Jakarta