Jakarta: The bounty offered by a separatist group, the Free Papua Movement (OPM), for the arrest of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his October visit to Britain has no legal basis, according to an observer.
Hikmahanto Juwana, an international legal observer from the University
of Indonesia (UI), said on Thursday that the head of state should ignore
the report because the OPM had no legal authority.
He pointed
out that the separatist group could not have the President arrested.
“The President should not be daunted,” Hikmahanto said, adding that
Yudhoyono should not cancel his visit, as he had done in October 2010
when he canceled his visit to the Netherlands.
Activists from the
separatist group, the Republic of South Maluku (RMS), had at the time
filed a request with a Dutch court for the arrest of President Yudhoyono
ahead of his scheduled visit to the Netherlands.
Himahanto cited three reasons why he thought the OPM would not be able to have President Yudhoyono arrested.
“First, they do not have the authority to ask the British government to issue an arrest warrant,” he said.
In
most countries, only the state has the authority to issue such an
order, such as the one issued by the US government in its efforts to
arrest Umar Patek.
Second, the British government had assured the
President’s safety and security during his visit to Britain at the
invitation of the queen, Himahanto pointed out, as reported by Antara
news agency.
Of course, there would be no legal proceedings
against the President. If that were to happen, the British government
would be embarrassed as such a move would be considered a diplomatic
slap in the face, he said.
Finally, the bounty had no legal basis due to the OPM not possessing legal authority, Himahanto stated.