Howard protests release of Indonesian cleric

CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister John Howard wrote to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono today to protest the decision to free a hardline Islamic cleric jailed over links to the 2002 Bali bombings.

The criticism comes ahead of a planned summit between Howard and Yudhoyono set for June 26 in Indonesia. That summit had been expected to cap an improvement in ties after a flap over Australia granting asylum to 42 people from Indonesia's restive Papua province.

Cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, whom Western and regional intelligence officials say was once spiritual leader of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah militant network, was released on Wednesday after serving time over the Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

Howard said he told Yudhoyono in the letter that he was disappointed and concerned by the decision to free Bashir.

"His release, and the inflammatory statements that he has made in support of extremism since he has been released, have been deeply offensive, especially to the families of the men and women of this country who died in the Bali attack in October 2002," Howard told Australia's parliament.

"The Indonesian government should understand the deep anger in the Australian community and our sense of concern about what has happened."

Late on Wednesday, Bashir had called on Howard to convert to Islam "if he wants to be safe in the afterlife" and said Australian criticism was expected and "in line with the character of infidels in combating the Islamic struggle".

He also said it was wrong to use bombs in a "safe zone" and those who did so "should self-reflect and review their strategy". Bashir, 67, has made similar remarks in the past and denied any connection to the Bali blasts or other attacks.

Indonesian authorities, including Yudhoyono, say Bashir's jail sentence and release were mandated by courts.

"Abu Bakar Bashir has been put in trial, has been punished. Our national effort to combat terrorism is not measured by the release of Bashir. We have sentenced to death those perpetrators involved in the bombings," he told foreign donors in Jakarta.

Howard said Australia remained committed to working with Indonesia to fight terrorism.

However, he said he had also urged Yudhoyono to monitor Bashir's activities, and to comply with a UN Security Council ruling Australia says requires freezing Bashir's assets, restricting his travel and barring his access to weapons.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla told foreign journalists in Jakarta on Thursday that Bashir's release followed legal procedures but like any other citizen he would face the law if he commits an offence.

"Indonesia or any government cannot arrest him according to his thinking, opinion," Kalla said.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Sky television on Thursday that the UN World Food Programme was channelling food aid to victims of the May 27 Java island earthquake through an organisation linked to Bashir.

Bashir told reporters he did not know anything about the food aid matter because he had been in prison.

Despite ups and downs in other aspects of their relationship, the two countries have cooperated closely since the Bali blasts in pursuing violent militants, with Australia providing key technical and expert aid to Indonesia.

- REUTERS