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| Down Under | |
| Downer sez JI memorial plot illustrates group's depravity | |
| 2005-11-25 | |
| AUSTRALIANS who attended a memorial service marking the third anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombing were aware of the risk of terror attack but were not about to be deterred, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today. Mr Downer said the fact that terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) would even consider attacking mourners at a memorial service showed just how depraved it was. A campaign plan, written by JI's master bombmaker Azahari Husin and found on a computer disc, apparently showed JI considered a strike against the service but abandoned it because of tight security. The memorial, attended by 300 people including Mr Downer and Justice Minister Chris Ellison, was held in Bali's Kuta district last month. Bali Police chief Made Pastika and some 50 relatives of the 88 Australians killed in the October 12, 2002 attack also attended. Mr Downer said he believed those attending the service were safe because of the tough security measures put in place by both Australian and Indonesian authorities. He said it was a moving occasion that meant much to those involved. "Everybody knew that there were risks involved. We were all aware of that," he said in Adelaide. "But Australians are a courageous and robust people and they are not going to be dictated to by terrorists."
Indonesian police seized the JI disc from a courier named only as Kholil, who was arrested on November 8. It was written by Azahari and titled The Bali Project and intended for delivery to another JI senior figure, Noordin Top. The plan detailed a range of other potential targets in Bali including the airport, art market, temples and the zoo. JI proceeded with an attack on restaurants on the island on October 1 this year, killing 23 including four Australians and the three suicide bombers. Azahari was gunned down by Indonesian police in a raid in Java on November 9. Top remains at large. Attorney General Philip Ruddock said documentary evidence found at the site of Azahari's death suggested Australians were at real risk of a terror attack. "All of that of course is consistent with the travel warnings that we have given in relation to Indonesia. Terrorist attacks were certainly possible," he said. "And what we now have is the evidence that affirms that advice that this group, Jemaah Islamiyah, operating in Indonesia had identified a large number of targets and they would have posed considerable risk to Australians." Mr Ruddock said the threat was continuing. "Obviously the capture of that information (and) the death of Azahari has made some difference," he said. "But others who have been complicit in these activities still remain at large and that's a matter of continuing concern to us." | |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 Downer's plain language and leadership by example, even at his own peril, is truly refreshing. It only cements my resolve to someday visit the good folk down under. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2005-11-25 10:35 |