VP Hamzah lashes out at his critics

VP Hamzah lashes out at his critics

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vice President Hamzah Haz lashed out at his critics on Friday,
calling un-Islamic those who disapproved of his visit to detained
Laskar Jihad commander Ja'far Umar Thalib.

"If one is a Muslim, one would not criticize me over the visit
because, according to Islam, if bad times befall a man, then we
as Muslims are obliged to help him," Hamzah told reporters after
Friday prayers.

He also brushed aside suggestions that his visit to Ja'far had
hurt his relationship with President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who
has been accused by some Muslim leaders of engineering Ja'far's
arrest.

Hamzah, who is also chairman of the Muslim-based United
Development Party (PPP), has come under strong criticism over his
decision to visit Ja'far at the Jakarta Police Headquarters on
Tuesday.

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais
accused Hamzah of intervening in the investigation process, while
some political analysts suggested that Hamzah was trying to win
the support of Muslims in the lead up to the 2004 general
election.

Ja'far was arrested at Surabaya's Juanda Airport last Saturday
on charges of provoking violence in troubled province Ambon.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday that the government fully
supported any legal process against Ja'far and chairman of the
proindependence Maluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM) Alex Munuputty.

"We (the government) will not interfere in the police
investigation of Ja'far, nor that of Alex. Should they be
released by the police, it must be based on the law," Susilo
said.

He underlined that the arrest of Ja'far and Alex was necessary
as part of efforts to eliminate violence in the region following
the signing of the Malino II peace accord in February.

"We consider the groups to be part of the problem as they
conduct a kind of provocation that recreates new violence and
conflict there. I know there have been various reactions to the
arrest as some tried to express their solidarity.

"I hope the about 210 million people of Indonesia will
understand that the arrests are merely part of the legal process.
There are no political deals behind it," Susilo said.

Meanwhile, PPP Jakarta chief Azwar Abbas submitted a written
request to the Jakarta Police Headquarters on Friday seeking
Ja'far's release.

On Friday, Ja'far, who is still wearing his white tunic and
white turban, received at least 100 Laskar Jihad members on
Friday. He hugged each of his supporters as they arrived to greet
him.

Other visitors on Friday included House of Representatives
(DPR) deputy speaker A.M. Fatwa, who stated that Ja'far should be
released from police detention and that he was ready to become a
guarantor for Ja'far.