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| Southeast Asia | |
| Indonesia prosecutor seeks life imprisonment for alleged terror leaders | |
| 2008-03-27 | |
| Prosecutors demanded life imprisonment Wednesday for two Indonesian militants alleged to be top leaders of the Southeast Asian Muslim extremist network Jemaah Islamiyah. Police say Zarkasih headed the group when he was arrested last year, while Abu Dujana has been described as its "military commander." Like many Indonesians, Zarkasih goes by a single name. Members of Jemaah Islamiyah and their associates have been blamed for a string of bombings on Western targets in Indonesia in recent years, including the 2002 Bali nightclub attacks that killed 202 people, most of them foreign tourists. Neither Zarkasih or Dujana have been indicted over a specific act of terrorism. They are being tried separately, but on similar charges of stockpiling weapons and explosives for use in eastern Indonesia, where Muslim extremists have carried out attacks on Christians and harbored fugitives. Prosecutors told judges that both men deserved to be sentenced to life imprisonment. In response, Zarkasih said "no problem", while Dujana shook his head and said he was a victim of "tyranny." Judges are expected to reach a verdict in both trials in the coming weeks. Dujana, who was arrested last year on Java island along with Zarkasih, has previously admitted being a member of Jemaah Islamiyah, but on Wednesday denied any involvement with the network.
Indonesia has arrested and convicted dozens of members but has not made membership of Jemaah Islamiyah a criminal offense. At least four militants are on death row for their involvement in the bombings campaign. | |
| Posted by:Fred |