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Southeast Asia
Indonesia warns of Bali backlash
2004-08-26
Indonesia has told Australia not to lecture or pressure Jakarta about dealing with the Bali bombers, warning it could result in a backlash by Islamic fundamentalists.
"You know what they're like..."
Indonesia's chief foreign affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa rebuffed Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's suggestion Australia could seek to extradite some of the bombers. Dr Natalegawa said it was ridiculous to suggest the bombers were escaping punishment for their crimes. "That's not quite the case when we look at where we are factually, because most of the bombers are behind bars and justice has been served." Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday vowed to push Indonesia into ensuring militants convicted of the Bali bombings were punished after a court dropped charges against one of the bombers. Jhoni Hendrawan, alias Idris, was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years in prison for involvement in the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last year. But he was cleared of helping plan the October 2002 Bali bombings following a decision by Indonesia's Constitutional Court last month which barred the use of retroactive anti-terror laws enacted after the deadly attacks.
There aren't any laws in Indonesia against killing 202 people. 201's the limit...
Dr Natalegawa denied the bombers were getting away "scot-free" and warned Australia against making suggestions they were.
"Y'go making suggestions like that, bad things could happen!"
"What kinda bad things?"
"Let's just say... Do yer drinkin' at home!"
"To have an overbearing expression of interest in the micro-management of the trials may have the deleterious impact of leading to accusations Indonesia is bowing to foreign pressure," he said.
"Yeah! An' that overbearing expression of interest in the micro-management of the victims' funerals really stuck in our craw, too!"
"This type of comment may give credence to critics of the government. Our recommended approach would be to have confidence in the legal process and in the corridor of law rather than so-called diplomatic pressure." Prominent Islamic firebrand and suspected Jemaah Islamiah spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir and his supporters have accused the Indonesian government of bowing to foreign pressure by seeking to re-try him next month for terrorism.
After running this site for just under three years, I've come to the conclusion that "Islamic firebrand" is a poor translation of "bloodthirsty lunatic." It's starting to wear. We need a better translation.
Mr Howard said he would leave no stone unturned to ensure the militants were punished, and said he would "put all the legitimate pressure we can on the Indonesian government to make certain that these people remain in jail". Mr Downer phoned his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda and said Australia could seek to extradite some of the bombers to face justice if Indonesian legal efforts failed as a result of the Constitutional Court ruling. But Dr Natalegawa said it was unlikely Jakarta would ever agree to Indonesian citizens being deported to Australia to face court. "That's certainly not on our horizon. We are firmly focused here," he said.
Posted by:tipper

#9  Wait a second, let me rephrase that...
The flesh eating trial-lawyer Cingold called this one months ago. :>
Posted by: Shipman   2004-08-26 4:15:39 PM  

#8  Cingold called this one months ago.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-08-26 4:14:16 PM  

#7  Sounds like a threat to me. What do our Aussie friends say?
Posted by: Mikey   2004-08-26 3:39:25 PM  

#6  Why not bomb the F out of Jakarta and warn the Indos not the lecture the Aussies, else it could cause a backlash.
CAVEAT: I think Indonesia is an ally in the WOT, despite the country’s unique (and to the West) often inexplicable social-political gaffes (note: I previously posted about these cultural differences at some length). I also think the MSM tries to capitalize on the ethnocentricity of the West, and the fears of the West, to boost interest in what would otherwise be the rather mundane and tedious administration of justice executed on murderous islamofascists.
The now infamous “10-year sentence” and “Bali bombings acquittal” are a MSM red herring. THERE IS NOTHING UNUSAL GOING ON HERE, AND IT DOES NOT MEAN INDONESIA SUPPORTS ISLAMOFASCISTS. Indonesia, despite its own unique and inexplicable gaffes, is not Malaysia.

Substitute a U.S. Judge and verdict and see how the story plays out. Congress passes a law. The law is applied retroactively against a murderous terrorist involved in a bloodthirsty massacre. On appeal the terrorist prevails because ex post facto laws are unconstitutional. Meanwhile, on a separate charge the terrorist is given a ten year sentence for minor involvement in another terrorist act. The prosecution (in the massacre case) plans to re-file charges under older law that won’t be retroactive with respect to the massacre. EVERYONE EXPECTS THE MURDEROUS TRAITOR WILL EVENTUALY BE EXECUTED FOR HIS CRIMES. Pretty mundane and tedious, isn’t it?

No matter how the MSM spins this tale, no matter how alarming they make these developments seem, THE STORY ISN'T OVER AND THE RI GOVERNMENT ISN'T PLAYING FAVORITES WITH an ISLAMOFASCIST. Despite the alarming title, this story (Bali bomb verdicts start to unravel; login = trufan, password = trufan, HT to bugmenot.com) is quite a bit more balanced and includes the following:
However, an expert on Indonesian law said Australians need not be overly worried that the perpetrators of the Bali attacks would walk free. "People shouldn't be afraid of it. There are plenty of other grounds on which the Indonesians can get these people," said Tim Lindsey, an associate professor at the University of Melbourne Asian Law Centre.

Murder, arson and illegally transporting explosives were more conventional charges they could face which would also carry hefty [editorial note: "hefty," like as in "death"] sentences.

The principle of double jeopardy - not trying someone for the same crime twice - would not apply if the Bali bombers' appeals were accepted, as the verdicts would not be reversed but quashed, Dr Lindsey said. "That means they never existed."
And the RI Government starts fresh so that it can TRY HIM FAIR, HANG (or shoot) HIM FAIR.
Posted by: cingold   2004-08-26 1:18:48 PM  

#5  "Oh yeah, mate? Is that right? Well, how about I come over there with a few of my boys..."
Posted by: mojo   2004-08-26 11:52:33 AM  

#4  Jhoni Hendrawan, alias Idris, was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years in prison for involvement in the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last year.

1.) What does "involvement" mean?
2.) How does a 10-year sentence for the killing of a dozen people compare to sentences for similar crimes passed down in other nations?
Posted by: jules 187   2004-08-26 11:01:57 AM  

#3  Indonesia has told Australia not to lecture or pressure Jakarta about dealing with the Bali bombers, warning it could result in a backlash by Islamic fundamentalists.

Translation: Indonesia has no control over its population.

Advice to Aussies: stay far away from that place.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-08-26 10:55:12 AM  

#2  looks to me like Jhoni Hendrawan cooperated and got a lighter sentence.
Posted by: B   2004-08-26 9:20:40 AM  

#1  Why not bomb the F out of Jakarta and warn the Indos not the lecture the Aussies, else it could cause a backlash.
Posted by: ed   2004-08-26 9:16:28 AM  

00:00