Radical Muslim Cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir Charged For Provoking Terrorism

By BOB Goswami

INDONESIA NEWS - Indonesian police have alleged orthodox Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir with serious provocation of terrorism in the country that might carry him to death penalty.

Early August Mr.Ba'asyir was arrested for terrorism links as he was alleged to be involved in military camp in Aceh.

Prosecutors said they hoped to go to trial "very quickly".

Mr. Ba'asyir is not a clean man, earlier arrested and served jail for 26 months for involvement with Jemaah Islamiah (JI) who were behind 2002 Bali attacks. The 71-year-old radical cleric was jailed for conspiracy over the bombings in which 202 people were killed. Nevertheless, he freed in 2006 for lack of solid evidence.

He has been proclaimed as the religious leader of JI, which has linked to al-Qaeda - a claim he denies.

In 2008 a radical Islamic group was organized called Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) and he is presently acting as a leader of that group.

Under Indonesian law, police will investigate the whole matter and then pass a dossier containing the results to prosecutors, who then decide whether to got to trial. Prosecutors said Mr. Ba'asyir convicted for multiple charges for various terrorism activities directly and indirectly under terrorism legislation.

South Jakarta prosecutors' office chief Mohammed Yusuf said that the most significant allegation against him was the instigation of committing crimes of terrorism, which carried death penalty. He further said that the police wanted to clear the case very quickly.

In another charge he is linked to the training camps in Aceh where militants have been trained to Mumbai-style attacks on the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Chidambaram submits answers of 30 questions to Pakistan

On Friday India handed over the answers to the 30 queries of Pakistan. The High Commissioner of Pakistan to India Shahid Malik gave the confirmation that he has received a set of 32 replies from India.

Briefing to the media, Home Minister P Chidambaram told that India had provided solid bases for Pakistan to act. He said that if Pakistan is serious about the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack investigation then the answers provided by India gives solid bases for that.

Chidambaram also added that India now expects the Pak government to act by apprehending the culprits and handing them to India or prosecute them in Pakistan itself.

Chidambaram was briefing to reporters after handing over the 32 replies to External Afairs Minister Prana. In his brief Chidambaram also mentioned, 'Now Pak must prove its intent by acting on the details.'

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Pakistan High Commssioner to India Shahid Malik confirmed to the reporters saying, “India has just handed over its response to the 30 odd questions raised by us. I will pass it on to Islamabad and it will help in the investigation.”

Chidambaram while announcing about the submission of the 32 replies stressed that Pakistan must act decisively against the 26/11 Mumbai attackers.

Labels: India News, Pakistan News, 26/11, Mumbai Terror Attack, Chidambaram

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Lankan cricket team attacked in Pak

12 gunmen attacked the Lankan cricket team in a commando-style operation in Lahore on Tuesday morning. The operation by terror group killed 6 police officers and wounded 6 cricketers. 2 bystanders were also killed in this terror attack.

Sports minister of Sri Lanka, Gamini Lokuge, who was also with the team at the time of attack, confirmed that the players were injured. Media reports says that a British coach has also been wounded.

"Cricketers have never been attacked in Pakistan despite what the situation has been in the country" said Rashid Latif, a former Pakistan cricket captain, told Reuters. "Today is a black day for Pakistan cricket and a black day for Pakistan."

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Haji Habibur Rehman, police chief in Lahore, said that the gunmen opened fire as the motorcade approached Liberty Circle, a major intersection in Lahore not far from Qadaffi Stadium, the best-known cricket facility in Pakistan.

“This is terrible for the ordinary cricket fans in Pakistan. There is some uneasiness on part of other teams in coming to our part of the world,” says cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle.