'Let the Courts Decide'.(Indonesian terrorists)

Hamzah Haz hasn't exactly been ally No. 1 in the U.S.-led war on terror. Since September 11 the Indonesian vice president, who heads the nation's largest Muslim political party, has emerged as the most powerful voice against cracking down on suspected militants operating within the archipelago. Haz has openly consorted with and even praised some of the same people the United States has accused of leading terrorist organizations. One of these men, the fundamentalist cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, remains under arrest for possible ties to Jemaah Islamiyah, the group suspected to have masterminded the Bali bombings. NEWSWEEK's Fareed Zakaria and Joe Cochrane spoke with Haz last week. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: Prior to the Bali bombings, you repeatedly said there were no terrorists in Indonesia. Did you underestimate the problem?

HAZ: The national police chief said the investigations into [previous] bombing cases were not connected to terrorists. When I met the radical Islam leaders, they all said they were not terrorists. I told them, "If you're not involved I will defend you." If they are proven to be connected, then I'm going to ask that they be arrested.

But it is clear that Indonesia has terrorists. And it appears from the confession by Amrozi, the main suspect in the Bali blasts, that there are some connections to Jemaah Islamiyah.

We are very appreciative to the police for finding Amrozi so quickly. Whether or not Abu Bakar Bashir is connected to this should be proven based on legal procedures. Abu Bakar Bashir himself said that there is no Jemaah Islamiyah in Indonesia. So we don't know.

But you don't think so.

So far we haven't found it.