Indonesian group holds memorial for Bin Laden

[News_Editor]

Indonesian group holds memorial for Bin Laden

2011-05-06 05:36:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesia's Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) on Wednesday evening held a memorial to pay tribute to slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, the Jakarta Post reported.

Hundreds of members of the FPI, an Islamic group which advocates implementation of shari'ah law, gathered at the group's headquarters in Petamburan, West Jakarta. FPI Jakarta chair Habib Salim Umar Alatas said that Bin Laden was a hero to him and his followers, many of whom doubt that he died in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

"If [Osama] was indeed shot dead, then show us his corpse," Salim said.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he will not release photos taken of Osama bin Laden after his death on May 1.

A politician from the Islamic political party, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said it was understandable that members of the FPI wanted to hold a memorial for Bin Laden.

"These are members of the community expressing their convictions. This reflects a protest against US government policies that violate the law," the PKS chair at the House of Representatives said.

The government of Indonesia has increased its security measures as the death of Bin Laden could lead to extremist groups reacting violently. The Indonesia State Intelligence Agency (BIN), however, has said that so far there has not been any indications of reprisals to be carried out by radical groups in connection with the death of the al-Qaida leader.

"Certainly we will be alert because we saw that the past incidents had to do with al-Qaida. There must be alertness because it has links here," BIN chief Sutanto said, as cited by Antara news agency.

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