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Indonesia mushy on terrorists
Two Indonesians detained in the Philippines for more than a month on suspicion of terrorism returned home yesterday to a heroes' welcome as the government set in motion a plan to pardon Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir. Both developments drew speculation once again that the government was going soft on terrorism. In the case of Abu Bakar, legal loopholes and fears of a backlash from Muslim hardliners, were enough for the authorities to push for a pardon just a week after threatening to jail him for a 17-year-old conviction for subversion. The two detained Indonesians in the Philippines who were released at Ms Megawati's request reportedly under pressure from politicians at home. Hundreds of waiting Muslim activists shouted 'God is Great' and 'Welcome Back Our Heroes' as Tamsil Linrung and Abdul Jamal Balfas arrived at Jakarta's Sukarno-Hatta airport yesterday. Two of them, together with another Indonesian, were arrested at Manila airport on their way to Bangkok on March 13, after explosives were allegedly found in Tamsil's luggage. Everybody seems to have a soft spot for Megawati but the Islamothugs that are seemingly overrunning the country. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-04-26 |
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