Indonesian Govt to Seek Clarification Volunteers' Fate in Afghanistan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 25, 2001

Indonesian Govt to Seek Clarification Volunteers' Fate in Afghanistan

The Indonesian government will seek clarification about reports saying that hundreds of Indonesian volunteers are trapped in Afghanistan, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told reporters in Surabaya, capital of East Java province, on Saturday.

The minister said the clarification was needed before the government could decide on how to help them. "We have just contacted our ambassador in Pakistan to clarify whether it is true that some (Indonesian) volunteers were trapped and have been jailed in Afghanistan," Susilo said.

If the report could be confirmed, the government would take necessary moves to help them. "But if they are involved in crimes, we can only ask (the authorities in Afghanistan) to treat the Indonesian citizens fairly," the minister was quoted by the Antara News Agency as saying. "Our policy is clear, namely, not to get involved in physical solidarity with Afghanistan. Besides breaching the government's policy, the volunteers did not report their whereabouts to the Indonesian embassy in Pakistan," he added. Indonesia's Islamic Youth Movement (GPI) sent at least 300 volunteers to Afghanistan to fight on the Taliban's side. GPI Chairman Dudi Suaib said all of the volunteers were safe. Out of the 300, 150 were on their way to Pakistan and the rest were in Kandahar.