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| Southeast Asia |
| Australians ’targeted’ in Bali blasts |
| 2003-02-10 |
| Australians were singled out as deliberate targets in the October 12 Bali bombings, according to confessions made by two leading suspects in the attack. The country's role in helping secure East Timor's independence from Indonesia and its close allegiance to the United States made Australia a target for the bombers who killed almost 200 people, including 88 Australians. The confessions, aired on an Australian current affairs television program Monday, were made by the alleged mastermind of the bombings, Imam Samudra, and an accomplice, Muklas. The report coincides with a trip by Prime Minister John Howard to Washington, where he appears likely to commit Australian troops and equipment to any U.S. military action in Iraq, further raising the ire in predominantly-Muslim Indonesia. Muklas said the killing of so many Australians represented the culmination of a "successful operation." "I felt grateful because in my opinion the planned mission and objective had been achieved because there were many casualties among American allies, including Australian citizens," said Muklas, who goes by only one name. "We planned the explosion in Bali because there are many places in Bali that are visited by tourists from these countries, such as the United States, England, France, Australia, Israel and other countries who behave despotically towards Muslims," Muklas was quoted as saying. Among 13 reasons Samudra gave for the bombings was Australia's involvement in East Timor's transition to independence from Indonesia in 1999. "Australia has taken part in efforts to separate East Timor from Indonesia ... which was an international conspiracy," the television program Four Corners reported. Twenty nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the Bali bombings, including 19 who are considered directly involved. Police have identified at least three of the suspects as being members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a pan-Asian network of Islamic extremists with links to al Qaeda. Sumudra is alleged to be the field commander of JI in Southeast Asia. The Four Corners' report also says the bombers staked out Paddy's Bar in Kuta, Bali -- one of two nightspots targeted -- for three weeks prior to the blast, and claims there were two suicide bombers, not one as originally suspected. So much for the "We only tried to kill Americans" defense. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 For more infor have a look at - http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2003/20030210_bali_confessions/default.htm |
| Posted by: Rizzo 2003-02-10 16:32:25 |
| #1 They should send a copy of the video to each of the nudies that protested last week, just to let these lasses know who are their friends and who are their enemies. And by the way, me lovely lasses, a protest in Bhurkas would not becoming tuh ye. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-02-10 16:18:08 |