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| Southeast Asia |
| Indonesian V-P meets cleric probed for terror links |
| 2002-05-30 |
| Vice-President Hamzah Haz yesterday met a Muslim cleric who has been linked by Singapore to a regional terrorist network. He met Abu Bakar Bashir during a visit to the Al-Mukmin Muslim boarding school, which the cleric founded. He also met local Muslim leaders and scholars as well as students of the school at Ngruki, just south of the Central Java town of Solo. A student said the meeting took place in the school's auditorium. An employee of the school earlier described the occasion as a 'brotherly visit'. Mr Vice President seems to like visiting this sort of fellow. Singapore claims Abu Bakar is a leader of the Jemaah Islamiah regional terrorist group. Late last year, 13 suspected Jemaah Islamiah operatives were detained in the Republic for allegedly plotting to blow up US targets there. Indonesian police have questioned Abu Bakar over his alleged terror links but did not detain him, citing lack of evidence. "You a terrorist, Abu?" "Nope. Not me." "Well, okay then. See ya." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |