Waiting for an explanation

From the beginning, the arrest of three Indonesians at the Benigno Aquino International Airport in Manila, the Philippines, raised questions.

The climax was when the former chief of the Indonesian State Intelligence Coordination Agency, retired Lt. Gen. ZA Maulani, provided an explanation to the press.

He said the arrest of the three Indonesians had been made by the Philippine police at the request of the Indonesian police. He added that if was not uncommon for arrests to be made at the request of foreign intelligence agencies.

Several parties had earlier voiced suspicion of a link between Jakarta and the arrest of the three Indonesians in the Philippine.

The response to these earlier suspicions was one of doubt and questioning. But the issue is different now that such a link has been confirmed by an official.

With a statement from a former intelligence chief, it is clear that the issue cannot be left in limbo, as it has been since the arrests were made. Not providing a clear explanation of the arrests will increase the social, security and political complexities and difficulties in Indonesia.

The best thing that can be done is to offer the people an explanation. And it is the government that must offer this explanation.

Without such an authoritative and credible explanation, the arrest of the three Indonesians will continue to be a source of tension.

-- Kompas, Jakarta