http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050304/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_militant_cleric
U.S., Australia Criticize Bali Sentence 2 hours, 48 minutes ago World - AP Asia By MICHAEL CASEY, Associated Press Writer JAKARTA, Indonesia - The United States denounced a 2 1/2-year sentence for a militant Islamic cleric Thursday, calling the Indonesian court's ruling too lenient for the man alleged to head a regional terror group behind a string of deadly bombings. The verdict by a five-judge panel could see Abu Bakar Bashir freed as early as next year and was another setback for the Indonesian government's campaign to prove the cleric is responsible for attacks in the world's most populous Muslim nation. Officials contend Bashir is the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, an al-Qaida-linked group blamed for bombings in Bali's nightclub district that killed 202 people in 2002, a suicide bombing at the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta that killed a dozen in 2003 and other attacks. The judges convicted Bashir of conspiracy in the Bali attack, but they acquitted him on the more serious charges of planning the Marriott bombing and of inciting followers to stage terrorist attacks. 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 Indonesia. "We respect the independence and judgment of the Indonesian courts, but given the gravity of the charges on which he was convicted, we are disappointed at the length of the sentence," said U.S. Embassy spokesman Max Kwak. Seven Americans died in the Bali attack. 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. But Australia's Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said the conviction could spark a violent backlash by his 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. Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Sudi Sulalahi declined to comment on the verdict. 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 had faced a maximum penalty of death on the Marriott charge, but most legal analysts had predicted his punishment would be far less - partly due to the weak case by prosecutors. During the five-month trial, only one witness testified Bashir had anything to do with terrorism. The conspiracy conviction itself appears open to challenge. It relates to allegations that Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, who was convicted with 35 other militants in the Bali bombings, visited Bashir three months before the attacks to ask for his blessing. Amrozi refused to testify during the trial and prosecutors based that part of their case on what he told police about the meeting. Bashir denied the exchange ever occurred. Defense attorneys said they would appeal the conspiracy conviction. "This verdict was a gift to the police and those who want Bashir locked in jail no matter what," said one of Bashir's lawyers, Wirawan Adnan. "This was about politics. This verdict wasn't based on valid evidence and hopefully a higher court will see things differently." Before the trial, authorities said they had documents to prove Bashir leads Jemaah Islamiyah and a slate of witnesses that would ensure a conviction. But witness after witness either denied any knowledge of Bashir's terror links or portrayed him as a simple Islamic teacher. Bashir, who was acquitted of heading Jemaah Islamiyah in a previous trial, remained defiant Thursday. He called President Bush (news - web sites) "evil" and accused the United States of pressuring Indonesia to put him on trail. After the verdict, he told hundreds of cheering supporters he was "being oppressed by people from abroad and at home." "They consider Islamic law to be a shackle and are slaves to immoral behavior," he said while leading supporters in a prayer. "Allah, open their hearts or destroy them." 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 Marriott attacks and remain fugitives. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. 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