National

Saudi Arabia Objects to News on Its Citizens’ Involvement in Terrorism
Saturday, 26 November, 2005 | 12:45 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Saudi Arabian Embassy for Indonesia regretted the report of the media in Indonesia on the possible involvement of its diplomats in terrorism in Indonesia. “They have delivered their letter of objection by visiting the Indonesian foreign affairs department Thursday afternoon (24/11),” stated Indonesian foreign affairs spokesman Yuri Thamrin at his office on Friday (25/11).

Saudi Arabian Embassy, Thamrin said, considered that such information has yet to be supported by accurate data. “We have received this statement and we will convey the information to our fellow journalists,” stated Thamrin.

The Saudi Arabian Embassy also regretted the broadcast of a video recording on the police investigation of two of its citizens, who worked as lecturers at the State Islamic University in Jogjakarta. The lecturers have been cleared of any terrorism charge.

The Saudi Arabian Embassy said that its two citizens once went to Malang, East Java, sometime before the murder of Dr. Azahari. They were arrested in Probolinggo but were declared free of any charge.

Thamrin said that the Indonesian foreign affairs department had asked Saudi Arabia not to be overly sensitive about this issue. “The Indonesian government has never accused Saudi Arabia of having been involved in terrorism activities,” stated Thamrin. (Raden Rachmadi-Tempo News Room)