Indonesian convict insists he is not a terrorist

Indonesian militant, Agus Dwikarna, insists he is not a terrorist, and says that the Pasay City court should set aside his 17-year jail sentence for alleged illegal possession of explosives because the police had fabricated evidence against him during his arrest at the international airport last March.

"I am not a terrorist. I know nothing about the Jemaah Islamiya or Al Qaida and their activities," said Dwikarna in a statement which was sent to the media.

Authorities said the two militant groups have been plotting terrorist attacks in South-East Asia. "I am not an extremist," Dwikarna added in the statement.

However, Dwikarna admitted he was a member of the Lakas Jundullah, an Indonesian group, and was a member of a committee preparing to impose Islamic law in south Sulawesi.

Because of his involvement with these groups, Philippine authorities had him arrested, he said.

Dwikarna's lawyer said the arresting officers could not substantiate claims that the Indonesian was behind the bombing attacks on an elevated railway system that killed at least 22 people in Metro Manila in December, 2000, and in the explosion at the Philippine embassy in Indonesia which killed two and seriously wounded Ambassador Leonides Caday, also in 2000.

The lawyer said the Philippine authorities wanted to associate the Indonesian national with another arrested Indonesian, Fathur Rohman Al Ghozi, who is now serving a 12-year jail sentence for illegal possession of one ton of explosives which was supposed to be sent to a member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean).

Al Ghozi, arrested in Manila in January, is an alleged explosives expert of the radical Muslim group, Jemaah Islamiya (JI). Authorities said the JI is linked to Osama bin Laden's Al Qaida network. He was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment.

Two Indonesians arrested along with Dwikarna, Abdul Jamal Balfas and Tamsil Linrung, were later released.

Authorities said they did not have enough evidence to charge them. But sources said they were released after Indonesian Prime Minister, Megawati Sukarno-putri, had asked for assistance from Philippine President Gloria Arroyo.

Judge Henrick Gingoyon said a verdict on Dwikarna's case will be passed this month. He gave the government prosecutors and Dwikarna 10 days each to reply to their respective claims.