VP silent to demand for Jihad cheif release
VP silent to demand for Jihad cheif release
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri refused to
respond to the Muhammadiyah youth organization's request for the
release of Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah commander Ja'far
Umar Thalib.
Speaking at a media briefing after meeting Megawati in her
office on Monday, the organization's deputy chairman, Nadjamuddin
Ramly, said that Ja'far should be released as his arrest violated
legal procedure.
"Regarding our demand, actually Ibu Megawati did not give any
answer, but the bottom line is that we have conveyed our demand
for his release. For us, he should not be detained by the
police," Nadjamuddin told journalists.
He further said that Ja'far should be entitled to the same
treatment by police as was given to a suspect accused of similar
crimes during riots in Central Kalimantan. He pledged that the
Muhammadiyah youth group was prepared to provide a guarantee that
Ja'far would not flee.
"If Kamaluddin Usop from Central Kalimantan was released then
Ja'far should also be released. We have urged the government that
should Ja'far undergo legal procedures in accordance with
national law, then it should be done properly," Nadjmuddin said.
"We are ready to be his guarantor as we believe he will not
escape," Nadjamuddin remarked.
Police arrested Ja'far earlier this month on charges of
inciting religious hatred in the country and causing fatal
injuries to one of his men.
He would be charged according to Paragraph a of Article 156a
of the Criminal Code on inciting religious hatred in Indonesia,
and Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, with
a maximum punishment of five years and 20 years in jail,
respectively.
In front of the House of Representatives, dozens of Muslims,
carrying huge banners, staged a protest demanding the release of
Ja'far.
Similar incidents happened in Bandung, the capital of West
Java, as hundreds of Muslims, calling themselves members of the
Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah Communication Forum, staged a protest at
the Islamic Teaching Center Mosque, demanding Ja'far's release.
The chairman of the forum, Ayib Syafruddin, charged that the
arrest of Ja'far was politically motivated and was an effort to
defame the name of Laskar Jihad. (25/dja)