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The police will put militant cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir under
surveillance following his release Wednesday from a Jakarta prison
after completing his term on a terrorism conviction.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said the
security authorities would focus on the content of Ba'asyir's sermons,
with members of the public recruited to help in the monitoring effort.
"We will be monitoring his activities in cooperation with citizens and
neighborhood leaders. As long as he preaches peace, there will be no
problem," he said.
A visibly tired Ba'asyir arrived home in Surakarta, Central Java, at 8
p.m. and was immediately taken to Muhammadiyah Hospital for a health
check. The 68-year-old then traveled to his nearby Al Mukmin Islamic
boarding school in Ngruki village.
His first steps of freedom after 26 months in jail for his role in the
2002 Bali bombings came at 7:15 a.m., with hundreds of his supporters
hailing his release from Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta. The
huge crowd caused traffic jams on surrounding streets.
The supporters, chanting "God is great" and "Long live Abu Bakar
Ba'asyir", were mostly from hard-line Islamic organizations, such as
the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI) that he heads, the Islam
Defenders Front (FPI), Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia and Betawi Brotherhood
Forum (FBR). Also on hand were Al Mukmin students who traveled from
Surakarta to greet him.
Some members of Islamic political parties were also seen in the crowd.
Ten people from the Crescent Star Party (PBB) unfurled a banner which
carried the message, "Thank God for the release of Abu Bakar".
Ba'asyir briefly addressed his supporters, thanking his lawyers for
their "fervent defense" of him and calling for Islamic unity to fight
for sharia in Indonesia.
"I will continue the propagation of Islam... I would like to appeal to
all Muslims to strengthen the spirit of brotherhood and join hands for
sharia to help out the oppressed," he said.
Ba'asyir's convoy, with hundreds of his followers riding in cars and
buses, was escorted out of the capital by the Jakarta Police.
Ba'asyir was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment in March 2005 for
involvement in the conspiracy for the October 2002 Bali bombings. He
received a total of 125 days of remissions for good behavior in prison.
The government has been monitoring several Islamic boarding schools in
the country since last year to detect a possible terrorist connection.
It also is lobbying Muslim leaders to help the government's effort to
curb militant ideas among devout Muslims.
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