Police to Still Monitor Cleric Ba'asyir
Thursday, 15 June, 2006 | 16:46 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: After serving a prison sentence of two years and two months, cleric Ba'asyir walked free yesterday.

He, accused of involving with terrorism, was released having serves four months less than the sentence he received.

Despite his release, Ba'asyir is not fully a free man.

Yesterday, the police confirmed that they will still monitor the cleric's activities, including his lecturing and teaching at the Al-Mukmin Ngruki Islamic Boarding School (pesantren), in Sukoharjo, Central Java, which is led by him.

“Monitoring can be carried out by anyone, through local people, the Neighborhood Association (RT) or the Citizens Association (RW),” said Brigadier General Anton Bahrul Alam, the Deputy Head of Public Relations Department at the Police Head Quarters in Jakarta yesterday (14/6).

The police plan is in line with a request of the Australian government.

Allan Ferguson, Head of Australian Parliament's Federation of the Commission for Defense and Foreign Affairs, stated that the Australian people regret the release of Ba'asyir.

This stance was addressed to Yuddy Chrisnandi, a member of DPR Commission for Defense, who, together with his colleagues, is visiting Australia.

Anther simpler attitude was conveyed by Kevin Ruud, a parliamentary member of the Labor Party.

Through Yuddy, he said he was demanding that the Indonesian government keeps an eye on Ba'asyir.

“Also preventing him from joining in any political activity,” Yuddy told Tempo by phone.

Yuddy has rejected the request since it is considered as a violation of human rights.

Ba'asyir walked through the Cipinang Prison at East Jakarta around 7.15 am yesterday.

Wearing his trade mark white clothes, white sarong and white skullcap, Ba'asyir stepped out nonchalantly.

In the front yard of the prison, there were about 400 of his supporters from Majelis Mujahidin, Hizbut Tharir, Forum Betawi Rempug, and Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam, waiting.

They celebrated the release cheerfully and he traffic was jammed for about five kilometers.

However, rioting was prevented as there were 500 police on guard.

In front of his supporters, Ba'asyir gave a short speech and invited all Moslems to tighten their brotherhood.

“Because we have the same goal, that is to uphold the Islamic Sharia,” he said.

After giving the speech, he greeted some of his supporters and stepped into his Toyota Alphard.

By car, he went to Solo accompanied by seven other cars and guarded by two police cars.

According to the verdict, Ba'asyir should have served a sentence of two years and six months in prison.
Nevertheless, after remission, the sentence was reduced to two years and two months.

Zaky Almubarok, Sandy IP, Dimas Adityo and Yophiandi