ah... kurang kerjaan tuh negara -----Original Message----- From: "Alvin Daniel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 06:11:22 -0000 Subject: [ppiindia] BBC: Bali bomb cleric freed from jail
> Bali bomb cleric freed from jail > > The cleric's voice was drowned out by supporters' cheers > > A Muslim cleric convicted over the 2002 nightclub bombings on > Indonesian island Bali, which killed 202 people, has been > released from prison in Jakarta. > > Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was found guilty in March 2005 of conspiracy > in connection with the bomb plot, but he was cleared of more > serious charges. > > Security experts say the cleric is a founding member of a > regional Islamic militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI). > > Supporters gathered outside the prison, cheering as he left the > building. > > Australia, from where many of those killed in the Bali nightclub > bombs came, has said it is disappointed by the cleric's release. > > The BBC's Rachel Harvey, in Jakarta, says Ba'asyir emerged into > bright sunlight and a crowd of supporters, police and journalists. > > > I will continue to fight to uphold the Islamic Sharia. I thank Allah > that I am free today > > > He was freed about one hour ahead of schedule, surprising > many - including his lawyer, who did not arrive at the jail until his > client had been whisked away. > > He was thought to be travelling straight to his home town of Solo, > in central Java, where he runs an Islamic school. > > Wearing his trademark white skullcap and thick spectacles, the > elderly cleric tried to give a brief speech, but his voice was barely > heard among the shouting, our correspondent adds. > > "I will continue to fight to uphold the Islamic Sharia," he said, > thanking Allah and his lawyers for continuing to support him, the > Associated Press reported him as saying. > > With the crowd becoming increasingly excited, a group of young > men formed a human barrier to allow Ba'asyir to move through > the sea of jostling people towards a waiting car. > > > Ba'asyir was first arrested shortly after the Bali nightclub > bombings in October 2002, although he was never accused of > taking part in the attack. > > > Supporters crowded round as Ba'asyir was bundled into a car > > Two bombs ripped through the Kuta area of Bali, a regular haunt > for tourists, destroying a nightclub and killing mainly foreigners. > > Ba'asyir was held in custody and faced two separate trials, > eventually serving two separate sentences, the first for minor > immigration offences, the second for being part of what the court > called an "evil conspiracy". > > In both cases more serious charges were either dropped or later > overturned on appeal. > > Indonesian and foreign intelligence agencies believe Ba'asyir > was, and perhaps still is, the spiritual leader of radical network > JI. > > Our correspondent says Ba'asyir's power lies in his ability, as a > charismatic preacher and teacher, to provide encouragement - > and some would argue ideological justification - for violence. > > However, many experts believe his influence within JI has > waned, and the situation has changed hugely since he was > imprisoned. > > JI's network is fractured, split between those who espouse > violence as part of what they say is legitimate and necessary > jihad, and those who believe in a longer term struggle requiring > patient proselytizing and military preparation, our correspondent > says. > > Members of JI are accused of being behind a number of > operations in Indonesia, including two suicide attacks in Jakarta > and the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings. > > But most of these attacks took place while Ba'asyir was in prison > and he denies JI even exists. > > He claims he was the victim of an American-inspired plot to > undermine Islam. > > The 68-year-old cleric has said that once released he planned to > return to the boarding-school he founded and to continue > teaching. > > Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer said he feared that > Ba'asyir could now incite further violence. > > Mr Downer said that Australia and the US regard Ba'asyir as an > extremist and want his travel restricted and financial assets > frozen. > > Survivors of the bombings have expressed their outrage and > frustration that Ba'asyir has walked free after just two years in > prison. > > "I think the Indonesian government need to have a good look at > themselves," Peter Hughes, who survived with burns to 56% of > his body, told the Associated Press. > > But Mr Downer said that Canberra accepted the decision of the > Indonesian legal system. > > The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says the Bali bombings > brought Australia to the front line of international terrorism for the > first time, hardening the government's resolve to fight alongside > the US in its war on terror. > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! 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