Jailed Cleric Is Rearrested in Indonesia

Radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who was scheduled to be released from prison today, was instead rearrested and held for investigation of allegations that he leads the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network.

Hundreds of supporters who had gathered at Salemba Prison overnight attempted to block the transfer to police custody, some by throwing rocks at Indonesian officers. Nearly 50 people were injured, including 32 officers.

Authorities used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

Officials in neighboring countries and in the United States say Bashir is the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah, which is responsible for a series of bombings, including the 2002 Bali nightclub blasts that killed 202 people. Indonesian investigators, however, say they have found little evidence tying Bashir directly to the attacks.

The 65-year-old cleric served 18 1/2 months for forgery and immigration violations. He was also found guilty of treason last year, but that conviction was overturned on appeal.

Bashir denies any involvement in terrorism and says Jemaah Islamiah does not exist. He blames his continued incarceration on the United States, which he says is trying to silence him for spreading the word of Islam.

On arrival at police headquarters, Bashir smiled and told reporters, “Fate from God should be accepted.”

Indonesian courts have been reluctant to accept testimony against Bashir from Jemaah Islamiah members imprisoned in other countries.

Police say they have collected new evidence against Bashir. But much of it appears to be information they have had since his first trial.

One piece of evidence they hope to use is a letter from two members of Jemaah Islamiah to Bashir that identifies him as the group’s emir. Secondly, police allege that Bashir installed Nasir Abbas as a leader of a local Jemaah Islamiah cell in 2002. Abbas is in custody in Indonesia and is cooperating with authorities.

Police also allege that Bashir attended a graduation ceremony in 2000 at a training camp in the southern Philippines where Jemaah Islamiah members learned terrorist techniques and military skills.

The U.S. has urged Indonesia to keep Bashir in custody and bring terrorism charges against him, prompting some Muslim leaders to complain that Washington is interfering in Indonesia’s domestic affairs.

Bashir’s supporters have spread rumors that the United States would attempt to kidnap or extradite the cleric and keep him in custody, as it has other terrorist suspects around the world. U.S. officials have denied the charge and argue that there is more than enough evidence for an Indonesian court to convict Bashir of terrorism.

Bashir’s backers, disappointed that the cleric was not freed from prison, accused the police of being puppets of the U.S. and charged that they were working for President Bush.

“The fighting against the American police is not over yet,” said Jamal Aldin, an organizer of the prison demonstration. “The police, the Bush supporters, are the terrorists.”

Sudarsono reported from Jakarta and Paddock from Pattani, Thailand.