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Southeast Asia
Bashir's latest bid to get out of jail
2005-09-08
THE radical cleric convicted over the Bali bombings wants to get out of jail - because he has a sore back.

Lawyers for Abu Bakar Bashir confirmed yesterday they had written to Indonesian Justice Minister Hamid Awaluddin asking to take the 67-year-old to hospital. "Nerves in his tail bone are causing (Bashir) to feel pain, especially when he prays. We're afraid it's a pinched nerve and he could suffer palsy if it's not treated," counsel Mohammed Assegaf said.
Put a rod in his spine. Curve the rod properly and he'll always be in position to pray.
The Jemaah Islamiyah spiritual leader was lodging his latest application to escape jail as Treasurer Peter Costello yesterday announced Indonesian had promised to stop automatic jail remissions for convicted terrorists.

Last month Bashir received a 4 1/2 month reduction on his 30-month sentence as part of an amnesty granted on Indonesia's Independence Day. The decision means Bashir could be free by June next year. Treatment of the sore back outside Jakarta's Cipinang prison could mean even more time is slashed from Bashir's sentence for conspiracy over the bombings, which killed 202 people.

Indonesia fears this would spark international concern over the commitment of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's government to fighting terrorism.
Spark?
Mr Assegaf yesterday said he had written to the justice minister about Bashir's sore back after Indonesia's Supreme Court turned down a release request last month. "The person who suggested outside treatment was the prison doctor and he said it was serious," he said.

Yesterday Mr Costello said Mr Yudhoyono, popularly known as SBY, was sympathetic to Australian outrage over remissions to terrorists. Remissions are automatic for prisoners with good behaviour records and occur every six months under a process introduced in 1999. "I raised the concern of families in Australia about remissions for those convicted of terrorist offences," Mr Costello said after meeting the Indonesian president. "The president reiterated the Government of Indonesia will be reviewing those laws to fix the problem of automatic remissions in relation to very serious crimes."

Mr Costello said he had not raised the issue of Australians facing drug charges in Indonesia with Mr Yudhoyono. But he said Australians should be aware that Indonesia had tough drug laws. "Young Australians ought to know that if you try and run drugs into Indonesia the penalties are severe. Don't try it," he said.

"By the way, don't try it in Australia either.

"The most you can expect if you do try running drugs is a fair trial."

After touring Aceh, Mr Costello said Australia's $1 billion in aid was ensuring the best possible relief efforts were being financed. The rebuilding of the tsunami ravaged province of Aceh had fostered a strong relationship between the two countries, he said.
Posted by:Dan Darling

#2  "Nerves in his tail bone are causing (Bashir) to feel pain,"=a pain in the ass.
Posted by: raptor   2005-09-08 07:55  

#1  He'll prolly start crying, again, if they don't grant the request. It's a Lions of Islam™ thingy.
Posted by: .com   2005-09-08 03:46  

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