[list_indonesia] [ppiindia] Indonesia Defends Record on Fighting Terrorism
- From: "Ambon" <sea@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@freelists.org>
- Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2005 02:00:07 +0100
** Mailing-List Indonesia Nasional Milis PPI-India www.ppi-india.da.ru **
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4207218
Fri 4 Mar 2005
7:16am (UK)
Indonesia Defends Record on Fighting Terrorism
"PA"
Indonesia today defended its record on fighting terrorism after the United
States and Australia criticised the 30 month sentence given to the alleged
spiritual leader of an al Qaida-linked terror group as too lenient.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natelagawa said the independence of
the court that tried Abu Bakar Bashir should be respected, while noting that
more than 30 other militants have been sentenced in the 2002 Bali bombings, the
bloodiest terror attack blamed on the group.
Natelagawa cited Washington's refusal to give Indonesian officials access to a
top Southeast Asian terror suspect in US custody, Hambali, and wondered whether
access to him could have strengthened the case against Bashir.
"It's a nagging question, what difference it could have made," he said.
A five-judge panel convicted Bashir of criminal conspiracy in the Bali
nightclub bombings that killed 202 people, but cleared him of more serious
charges under the country's anti-terror law of planning the 2003 attack on the
US-owned J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta that killed 12 people.
The US and Australian governments contend that Bashir is the spiritual leader
of Jemaah Islamiyah, the al Qaida-linked group blamed for both attacks as well
as a series of alleged terror plots elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Australian Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said the conviction could spark a
violent backlash by Bashir's supporters "because he is such a significant
figure."
"We will need to listen to the intelligence agencies, and no doubt they will be
doing updated threat assessments today in light of the conviction," Keelty said.
The 30-month sentence was decried by the governments of the United States and
Australia, which were hoping for a lengthy prison term to deter terrorism in
the world's most populous Muslim nation. In 2003, an Indonesian court cleared
Bashir of related terror charges.
"We believe the results are not commensurate with Bashir's culpability," US
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also wanted a longer sentence.
"Eighty-eight of our people were killed in the Bali bombing and it's something
we feel very passionately about. And those who were involved, however they were
involved, should face justice," he said.
Natelagawa said the government respected the independence of the judiciary, and
noted that prosecutors could still appeal the verdict. He noted that Indonesia
sentenced more than 30 people over the Bali attacks, including three senior
figures in the conspiracy who were sentenced to death.
"We understand that these countries, especially Australia, have a natural and
understandable interest to see justice done, but at the same time we hope that
in expressing these views they maintain a sense of perspective how other
terrorist cases elsewhere in the world are handled."
Bashir, a 66-year-old cleric known for strong anti-Western and anti-Semitic
views and a desire to install an Islamic state in Indonesia, could be released
by October 2006, since he has been jailed in the case since last April. He has
always denied any wrongdoing.
The United States and Australia have never disclosed the evidence they
allegedly have linking Bashir to terrorism.
Indonesia has repeatedly asked Washington for access to Hambali, an Indonesian
citizen also known as Riduan Hisamuddin, saying he could provide key testimony
about Bashir's alleged involvement in terrorist activities in Indonesia.
Washington has refused, saying it could jeopardise its investigation of
Hambali, who was allegedly involved in the September 11, 2001, attacks in the
United States. Hambali was arrested in Thailand in 2003 and is being held by
the United States at an undisclosed location.
Bashir, who was acquitted of heading Jemaah Islamiyah in the previous trial,
remained defiant after the verdict. He called US President George Bush "evil"
and accused the United States of pressuring Indonesia to put him on trail.
Intelligence officials say Jemaah Islamiyah has cells across Southeast Asia,
where it is believed to be seeking a pan-Islamic state. Two of its purported
top leaders - Malaysians Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohamed Top - were
allegedly central players in the Bali and Jakarta attacks and remain fugitives.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources
often lacking in public schools. Fund a student project in NYC/NC today!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/5F6XtA/.WnJAA/E2hLAA/BRUplB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
***************************************************************************
Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppi-india.uni.cc
***************************************************************************
__________________________________________________________________________
Mohon Perhatian:
1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik)
2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari.
3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru;
4. Satu email perhari: ppiindia-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
5. No-email/web only: ppiindia-nomail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
6. kembali menerima email: ppiindia-normal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ppiindia-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
** Mailing-List Indonesia Nasional Milis PPI-India www.ppi-india.uni.cc **
Other related posts:
- » [list_indonesia] [ppiindia] Indonesia Defends Record on Fighting Terrorism
