Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Disappointed with Philippines President’s Envoy

TEMPO Interactive, Makassar, South Sulawesi:Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare HM Jusuf Kalla has expressed his disappointment with Norberto Gonzales, the special envoy of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Sometime ago, Gonzales was sent to investigate the background of Agus Dwikarna, an Indonesian citizen who was found guilty of being in possession of explosive materials and bringing these materials into the Philippines, and recently sentenced to between 10 and 17 years imprisonment by the Philippines courts . At the time of his visit, Gonzales promised to extradite Agus to Indonesia. “We are certainly disappointed with Gonzales. He told Agus’ family, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and I that the matter related to Agus had been settled. At least, the supervision over this case would be handed over to Indonesian government. Gonzales also told Mr. Yudhoyono that Agus would at least be extradited to Indonesia. But, the court’s decision on Agus’ jail sentence is really beyond our expectation,” Kalla told reporters at Hasanuddin airport in Makassar on Thursday (18/7). According to Kalla, the government will support Agus’ attempt to file an appeal against the Phillippines court’s decision. However, as this is a legal case, it has to be settled through legal channels. Kalla said that Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri has requested Indonesian officials to continue legal efforts in settling this case. He added that National Police would immediately send an investigation team to Manila in the Philippines. The team is assigned to investigate this case and new evidences that has been found relating to the case. “The National Police team will examine evidence relating to Agus’ case. For example, Agus is charged of having bombed the Philippines’ Ambassador in Jakarta. Our police team will investigate this,” said Kalla. According to Kalla, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda is still committed to settle Agus’ case through legal channels, particularly as Agus filed has an appeal against his sentence. He added that Indonesian government has given its support over this matter through the Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines. Kalla said that the government is concerned not only over this case, but also over all cases involving Indonesian citizens abroad. “By coincidence, Agus’ case is the one that attracts most attention. We have sent at least five letters at a ministerial level to Philippines government,” he said. (Muannas-Tempo News Room)