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| Southeast Asia |
| Bali blast scheduled for Sept 11 |
| 2003-08-21 |
| A key suspect in last year’s Bali terror bombings told an Indonesian court Thursday that the deadly nightclub attack had been initially scheduled to coincide with the first anniversary of Sept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. When a panel of judges trying the case asked why the date was changed to Oct 12, he replied: "That’s when the bombs were ready." He said fellow suspect Imam Samudra, who will hear a verdict on September 10, made the suggestion during a meeting at Solo in Central Java in August 2002. The meeting was also attended by several other suspects, including another of Imron’s brothers Amrozi who has been sentenced to death, Mukhlas, Abdul Ghoni, Zulkarnaen, Idris and Dulmatin. "Because Dulmatin and Idris were the ones knowing the situation (in Bali), it was decided to be done on a Saturday evening," Imron said. He said Dulmatin was the one who proposed Bali as a target since there were many white people there. Imron, who wore a Western shirt unlike other suspects who prefer a Muslim cap and tunic, said Samudra assigned tasks. He said Dulmatin was tasked with assembling the bomb, Ghoni with mixing the explosive ingredients, Idris with taking care of accommodation and Amrozi with buying a van and chemicals to make one of the bombs. Ali Imron, testifying in his own trial, said he doubted whether the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) regional terror group ordered the bombing of two nightclubs which killed 202 people on the Indonesian resort island last October 12. "As to whether it was a mission of the JI, I do not know. According to me it was not a mission of the JI because the majority of the JI do not like violence," he said. "According to me, it could only be the work of Hambali and Mukhlas." The international crisis group claimed that there had been a split in the JI ranks, with the younger members angry at their emir, Abu Bakr Bashir, because he was not radical enough. I’m not sure if it is true or just an attempt by his followers to shield him, but the ICC’s very detailed look at JI is definitely worth reading. Hambali was arrested in Thailand last week and is in US custody at a secret location. Mukhlas, alias Ali Ghufron, is an elder brother of Imron and is being tried separately for the Bali blast. Imron, the only suspect to express remorse for Western victims, said that "this incident has destroyed me. Why did I, an ustadz (religious teacher), do things like that? How could I just obey and not think?" he said, adding that he usually obeyed Mukhlas as a respected elder brother and his superior in JI. Imron profusely apologised to the victims, to their families and "all those who were victimized by the Bali bombs. My actions not only victimised Islam but also made non-Muslims confused about Islam," he said. "I say this frankly, my action was a mistake and no one should follow in my footsteps." |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |