JAKARTA (JP): The recent arrest of Laskar Jihad leader Jaffar
Umar Thalib is an example of the type of active law enforcement
that is expected to curb the violence in Ambon, Army Chief of
Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters at the headquarters of the Army's
Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) in Cilodong, East Java,
Endriartono warned Jaffar and his followers against trying to use
force to derail the legal process.
"The arrest of Jaffar by the police was made on the
allegation that he (Jaffar) was provoking people in Ambon despite
the increasing efforts to promote peace there. I'm sure that the
police had the legal basis to (make the arrest) ... I mean, the
enforcement of the law must be seen as an effort to solve the
problems there," Endriartono said.
"Should the police have a strong reason, as well as
evidence, to arrest Jaffar, they (the police) must not worry about
whether the decision will be opposed by certain people who feel
they are being treated unfairly," Endriartono added.
Endriartono added that rather than using mob power to try and
derail the legal process, it would be better for Jaffar to try and
prove his innocence. (tso)
