Indonesia Questions US Commitment to Fight Terrorism

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda questioned the United States' commitment on Wednesday to promptly grant direct and free access for Indonesian detectives to interrogate terror suspect Hambali as a sign of cooperation to fight terrorism.

"If I were the U.S. authorities, I would have granted the access much earlier to Indonesian authorities. We can share all the information," said Hassan.

Hassan claimed that the failure by the U.S. to grant earlier access to Hambali, who was captured by Thai and U.S. agents three weeks ago, was the reason for the lenient verdict against Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir who was sentenced to a four-year jail for minor violations, but acquitted of any treason charges.

"There was important information missing from Ba'asyir's trial, which should have been gotten out of Hambali to connect Ba'asyir with the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror group," he said.

"The trial process has shown Indonesia's commitment to fight terrorism," he stated.

Hambali is alleged to be a senior member of JI as well as the al-Qaeda terror network in Southeast Asia region while Ba'asyir was believed to be the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, before he was acquitted of those charges.

Hassan added that Indonesia was still waiting for "positive responses" from U.S. authorities to question Hambali.

"Hambali's case is an important test-case. Information sharing and mutual legal assistance are two important elements in fighting terror together," said Hassan.

"Maybe we should question the U.S. commitment in the Hambali case."