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)