Indonesian Muslim militia head cleared

Jafar Umar Thalib led the now-disbanded Laskar Jihad

A court in Indonesia has cleared the leader of a former Islamic militia of inciting violence between Muslims and Christians.

I hope this is an attempt by the judge to uphold freedom of speech in defence of the state and its people

Jafar Umar Thalib

The cleric, Jafar Umar Thalib, was accused of the offence while he led the Laskar Jihad militia on the religiously-divided Moluccan Islands.

The court in Jakarta also found him not guilty of inciting hatred against the Indonesian Government and defaming President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Correspondents say the trial was seen as a test of the Indonesian Government's resolve to combat Islamic extremism and to treat both the Islamic and Christian communities equally.

The acquittal came two days after two Christian separatist leaders were sentenced to three years' imprisonment for subversion during the Moluccan Island violence, in which thousands of people have been killed.

The court found the two guilty of inciting separatism rather than violence.

Supporters

"Allahu Akbar!" (God is great) shouted Jafar Umar Thalib's supporters as judges at East Jakarta court found the former Laskar Jihad chief not guilty on three charges.

The cleric was arrested on 4 May following a speech he delivered in the eastern Moluccan Islands last April which prosecutors said was aimed at inciting hatred against the government.

In the speech he reportedly implored Muslims to "to prepare our bombs, and ready our guns".

Two days later, 13 people were massacred in the Christian village of Soya.

Relief

"Thank God," Jafar Umar Thalib told reporters after the verdict.

"I hope this is an attempt by the judge to uphold freedom of speech in defence of the state and its people."

But commenting on the sentencing of Alex Manuputty, the Christian leader who was sentenced to three years in jail on Tuesday for promoting separatism, the cleric said his sentence was not long enough.

"I question why you would sentence him to only three years on charges of subversion while the charge itself carries a minimum sentence of 15 years. He should have been jailed for 15 years."

The militia ran by Jafar Umar Thalib, Laskar Jihad, sent thousands of fighters to the Moluccas from May 2000 in order to defend Muslims fighting Christians there.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in sectarian fighting in the Moluccas since January 1999.

Muslims and Christians signed a peace deal last February but sporadic violence still occurs.

Laskar Jihad was disbanded in October, shortly after the bombings on Bali which have been widely blamed on Islamic militants.

No official reason was given for the disbandment, but there was speculation that it was an attempt to avoid a prison sentence for Jafar Umar Thalib.