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