Indonesia wants access to captured JI leader

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Officials of the Indonesian consulate are asking authorities for access to suspected Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mohammad Baehaqi, who is believed to be an  Indonesian.

“We hope to be given access to Baehaqi,” said Indonesian Vice Consul Bambang Gunawan.

“Until now, we still have not been given access to him. Not even our officials from the Indonesian embassy in Manila.”

Gunawan said it still could not be established if Baehaqi is indeed an Indonesian national.

“We do not have Baehaqi in our list of JI terror suspects,” he said. “That is why we are interested to know his real identity. We want to know where he is really from.”

Gunawan told The STAR that it is basic protocol for any nation to give access to embassy officials if one of their citizens is arrested.

“This protocol has sadly not been followed in the case of Baehaqi,” he said.

Baehaqi was believed to be an Indonesian national because a Bahasa-English dictionary was said to have been found among his possessions when he was arrested by military intelligence agents last Feb. 17, military officials said.

The 26-year-old Baehaqi was captured in a military raid of his hideout in Barangay Piso, Baganga, Davao Oriental last week.

Police believe Baehaqi had linked up with JI leaders Dulmatin, Umar Patek and Marwan upon his arrival in the Philippines in 2003.

Baehaqi was also reported to be the JI’s liaison in central and southern Mindanao. – Edith Regalado