Abu Bakar Baasyir Sends Letters to President and Vice President

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Abu Bakar Baasyir, the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI) supreme leader, who is currently detained at the National Police headquarters (HQ) in Jakarta, has sent letters to President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz through his lawyers Mahendradatta and Achmad Michdan. The letters consist of his advice to both the president and vice president regarding the current situation in Indonesia. We met Mr. Samadi, an administrative officer in the presidents secretariate, and handed him the letters so that he could deliver the letters through the presidents adjutant. I hope the letters can be discussed in a cabinet meeting, said Mahendradatta after delivering the letters to the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (16/01). According to Mahendratta, the 5-page letters were written by Baasyir on January 14, 2003 and did not mention his case. His letters referred to Indonesias current economic condition as related to him by students and friends who have visited him at the National Police HQ. Baasyir requested President Megawati to start a modest lifestyle immediately, as she has been telling the public. He also suggested that the president and other state officials could also hand over half of their wealth to the state in order to settle the current economic problem. These funds will then be used to pay off the governments debts. If they do that, all people, including the rich, will follow in their steps, stated Baasyir. Baasyir also reminded Vice President Hamzah Haz, as the chairman of an Islamic party, to secure the state from foreign intervention, including not selling off state assets to foreign governments. Mr. Baasyir always feels oppression from the US and Singaporean governments. Why did the government sell some of its important assets to such governments? Mahendradatta said quoting Baasyir. The main point is that he believes our law and economy have been applied according to foreign governments will. This has made Mr. Baasyir sad, Mahendradatta said. He added that Baasyir is still waiting for his trial to take place, and that the process seems to have been delayed by the police. (Dede Ariwibowo-Tempo News Room)