IN a visit sure to anger the families of those killed in the 2002 Bali bombings, radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has been allowed to see the three death-row bombers in jail to offer them guidance.Himself convicted then acquitted of his role in the murderous nightclub attacks which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, Bashir told the terrorists that they must be patient and not weak, and that they were mujahidin (holy warriors).
Also alleged to have been the spiritual leader of terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, questions are being asked why authorities allowed the 69-year-old to visit his one-time protege at Nusakambangan, an island prison complex off the southern coast of Java.
| To prepare them for the pardon that's coming, of course. |
Before going into the jail, Bashir warned of a "big disaster" for Indonesia if the three were executed for their crimes, admitting their methods in defending Islam were wrong. "It is true they were defending Muslims but their methods were wrong. That is why they are now fasting to pay for the loss of innocent lives," he said.
| Fasting works, as long as they're dead when they're done. |
He also said the Indonesian Government should review the convictions and death penalties of the trio.
The men themselves, who have never expressed any remorse for their crimes except to say they are sorry that fellow Muslims died in the bombings, warned of doom for Australia. "Not long now Australia will go down. Its world will go down, the people will go down and doom on their Armageddon," Samudra said in English. "Specially for you Australia. Tell to your Minister, if you kafir did not convert to Islam then you will go to hell. Take America for example. Now their condition is worse than Russia."