| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| 2005-10-12 |
| Angry Indonesians have tried to break into a jail which houses convicted Bali bombers, on the third anniversary of the 2002 attacks on the island. Hundreds of protesters stormed the prison demanding the immediate execution of three militants sentenced to death for their role in the attacks. The three - Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Mukhlas - were moved to another jail on Tuesday amid security concerns. The crowd reportedly removed a prison door, but were then blocked by police. The bombings on 12 October 2002 killed more than 200 people, and badly affected Bali's tourist industry. Earlier this month the island suffered another attack, when three suicide bombers killed 20 people. The BBC's correspondent in Jakarta, Rachel Harvey, says that in sharp contrast to the aftermath of the 2002 attacks, the predominantly Hindu population of Bali has been spurred into action by this latest bombing. There have been regular protests against the militants in recent days, as local people attempt to rebuild their lives for a second time in three years. Wearing traditional Balinese headbands and sarongs, about 500 people tried to break into Denpasar's Kerobokan jail on Wednesday, shouting: "Kill Amrozi, kill Amrozi!" and "We have been waiting for three years." "Kill Amrozi! Give us back our peaceful Bali!" Amrozi was the first militant to be arrested, and was nicknamed the "smiling bomber" for his apparent indifference to victims of the attacks. While he, Imam Samudra and Mukhlas have been sentenced to death for their involvement in the attacks, they are still on death row waiting for the end of their appeals process. The crowd called for Amrozi's immediate execution, a demand which our correspondent says would be very hard to achieve under Indonesia's legal system. The mob was also angry that Amrozi and four other men had been moved from Bali on Tuesday to a more secure prison on the island of Nusakambangan, east of Java. "We are angry [Amrozi] has been moved from here," one protester, Endra, told the French news agency AFP. "We feel Amrozi is being protected by the government." A Bali security official was quoted by the Jakarta Post saying that following this transfer, 19 of the 30 men convicted of the 2002 attacks remained on Bali. Wednesday morning began in Bali with a memorial service to the people who died in the attacks exactly three years ago. Relatives and survivors of the bombs gathered at Bali's Ground Zero to commemorate the event in a simple ceremony. They stood in front of the marble memorial to those who died to observe 202 seconds of silence, one for each of the victims of Bali's first bomb attack. Eight-eight of the dead were Australian - and some of those who knew them had made the trip to Bali for the service, where they were joined by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. Others held separate events in Sydney and Melbourne. Mr Downer said his country was committed to helping Indonesia in its battle against militants. Our enduring friendship, he said, will see the eventual demise of the terrorist menace. The commemorative events were planned long before the second attack on Bali earlier this month. But according to our correspondent, the latest suicide bombings have added another layer of poignancy and grief to the occasion. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #7 "Keep that lynch mob out of the jail, Legume. If they got in here, they'd string those convicted bombers up in a heartbeat." "Ah . . . sir, excuse me for what may be impertinence, but you did say, 'If they got in here, they'd string those convicted bombers up in a heartbeat,' did you not?" "Yes, I did." "But sir, isn't that a good thing? Stringing up bombers, that is? . . . Sir?" "Well, now that you mention it, it does sort of seem not to have a downside, does it not?" "My point exactly, sir." |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-10-12 18:15 |
| #6 Justifiably Angry Indonesians have tried to break into a jail which houses convicted Islamist murderers, on the third anniversary of the 2002 terrorist attacks on the islands hindu population. Hundreds of citizens stormed the prison demanding the immediate execution of three terrorists sentenced to death for their role in the bombing of civilians. The three muslims- Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Mukhlas - were moved to another jail on Tuesday to prevent the mob justice. The crowd reportedly removed a prison door, but were then blocked by police. The terrorist bombings on 12 October 2002 murdered more than 200 people, as well as badly affecting Hindu Bali's main industry tourism. Earlier this month the island suffered another terrorist attack, when three Islamist suicide bombers murdered a further 20 people. The Gramscian Broadcasting Corporations propagandist in Jakarta, Rachel Harvey, says that in sharp contrast to the aftermath of the 2002 attacks, the predominantly Hindu population of Bali has been spurred to respond forcibly to this latest attack on them. There have been regular protests against the islamic terrorism in recent days, as local people attempt to rebuild their lives for a second time in three years. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2005-10-12 17:58 |
| #5 I doubt these guys will ever be put to death. Muslims don't kill outher muslims for killing unbelievers. The fact that let the proven head of JI go with a slap on the wrist and reduced prison time is all the proof you need. His "schools" are still operating and turning out islamoid death zobmies. What more evidence is required? Indonesia will populate Bali with muslims and the natives will get the shaft like every other provence has. Islam must rule over all, it's in their holy book. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2005-10-12 16:24 |
| #4 A mob eager to lynch Islamic terrorists? It warms my heart! |
| Posted by: Sheik Abu Bin Ali Al-Yahood 2005-10-12 13:08 |
| #3 "... the predominantly Hindu population of Bali has been spurred into action by this latest bombing." Right from the Z-Man's manual on How to Make Friends and Influence People. Bombings are finally getting results. Keep the good work up. We're not all Spanish. |
| Posted by: Thromble Chineting2817 2005-10-12 09:33 |
| #2 Downer should be saying he is interested in helping the Balinese. The Indos will do nothing. If he were really smart, he'd be in contact with the Balinese who want to leave Indonesia and set up a separate country. |
| Posted by: Huperesh Gleath3060 2005-10-12 09:26 |
| #1 wonder if Amrozi was still smiling? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-10-12 09:11 |