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| Southeast Asia |
| We are ready to die, Bali accused say |
| 2003-01-25 |
| They are kept in isolation and not allowed to meet. Yet in the sweltering isolation of their cells in what increasingly looks like death row, the spectre of betrayal troubles four accused Bali bombers as much as a firing squad. Mukhlas, 42, his brothers, Amrozi, 39, and Ali Imron, 30, and their comrade, Their trials, under terrorism laws which carry the death penalty, are still weeks away, yet almost every day police and security officials proclaim their guilt, releasing information on the latest "confession". The Balinese believe it and are impatient for retribution. "A firing squad is too good for them," a university graduate said. "The electric chair is better because it takes time for them to die." Under this unrelenting pressure, a rift has opened between the prisoners, with Mukhlas and Ali Imron shunning Amrozi and Samudra by appointing a new team of lawyers to handle their defence. The move shocked their former defence team, who are also lawyers for the cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, spiritual leader of the alleged terrorist group Jeemah Islamiah (JI). The most important prisoner, Mukhlas - a religious teacher and the alleged operations chief in South-East Asia for JI - has been the least co-operative with his interrogators. "When I look him in the eyes, he is a brave man, this is a jihad [holy war]," said his lawyer, Wirawan Adnan, before he was dismissed. "But deep inside people have fear, and I detect this in him. Mukhlas has his wishes, and death is not one of them." Mukhlas was probably betrayed by his long-term comrade, Amim Samudra, another religious teacher. Both are veterans who spent two years in Afghanistan, have worked together since they met in Malaysia in the l980s and are the only cadre terrorists among the prisoners. Mukhlas allegedly gave Samudra command of the operation, the biggest they had planned together. Sudanese-born Samudra is the most defiant of the prisoners, a willing martyr. After angry Balinese assaulted his lawyer, Qadar Faisal, as he left the Denpasar court recently, Samudra told Mr Faisal when he later visited his cell: "I wish I had a gun and was there to protect you." Mr Faisal says Samudra is "very angry" with Amrozi, the confessed bomber whose smiling face outraged Australians and Balinese when he was paraded for public viewing after his capture. Arrested two weeks after almost 200 people died in the blasts that destroyed two Bali nightclubs on October 12, Amrozi boasted about his role and gave police their first and most important breakthrough by naming most of his fellow conspirators, including Samudra. The last time Samudra and Amrozi were together was in December. Mr Faisal said Samudra castigated Amrozi in Arabic, a language not understood by their guards: "Speak the truth. Be a good Muslim." The head of the investigation team, General I Made Mangku Pastika, said of Samudra when comparing him with Amrozi: "He is more like a tough man, brave. Sometimes he is cool." None of the prisoners can ignore the fact that he is facing execution because of Amrozi's behaviour. This sets him apart, even though attempts are made to conceal the tensions among the prisoners. Next door to Polda is a mosque, and five times a day, when they hear the imam calling their interrogators to prayer, the prisoners kneel in their cells on prayer mats and face towards Mecca. |
| Posted by:Paul |
| #3 One last round of giggle juice (TM) for Auld Lang Syne....... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-01-25 20:40:31 |
| #2 Sounds like the essence of fairness to me... |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-01-25 20:39:12 |
| #1 "We are ready to die." Good, 'cause we are ready to kill you so it all works out. |
| Posted by: Denny 2003-01-25 11:02:20 |