The Bali Bombing

 

We fight terrorism because we love freedom; because we share the values of other countries that are in the war against terrorism; and because it's evil and you do not seek to reach an accommodation with those who would destroy your sons and daughters and take away the security and the stability of this country.

Quote from The Australian, October 2002

 

The bomb explosions on the Indonesian island of Bali in October 2002 killed a total of 202 people, most of them tourists enjoying a night out on the Kuta tourist strip there. This was the deadliest terror attack ever to take place in Indonesia, and it is thought to be the work of Jemaah Islamiah, a militant terrorist group with links to al-Qaeda, which seeks to impose a fundamentalist theocracy in South East Asia. Among others, Abu Bakar Bashir, a Muslim cleric with extreme fundamentalist views, was eventually convicted, but he only served a short prison sentence, causing a great deal of controversy, especially in Australia, where many of the victims had hailed from.

 

Scene of Carnage

 

The evening of October 12, 2002, in the tourist town of Kuta, Bali, was much like any other. Crowds of foreign tourists gathered, as they did every night, to dance and drink in the many clubs and bars lining the main street. Among them were many young Australians, for whom the island of Bali was a favourite holiday spot. Unbeknown to them, a terrible drama was about to unfold.

At just after 11.00 p.m., a bomb detonated in a bar known as Paddy’s Bar. The bomb was stowed away in a backpack worn by an individual, who was killed outright. Many of the people in the bar were injured by the bomb and rushed out into the street. Seconds later, another bomb exploded, just outside the Sari Club, which served a mainly Western clientele. This time, the bomb was detonated via remote control and was a far bigger device. It had been hidden in a white van just outside the club, and its force blew a crater in the ground and caused windows of the buildings nearby to blow out.

The scene was one of carnage, as body parts were blown around the street. Many of those who were injured could not get immediate medical attention, as the local hospital was too small to deal with such a disaster. Some of the victims were flown to Australia for specialist treatment, in an emergency rescue launched by the Australian air force. Meanwhile, another bomb went off just outside the American Consulate, but thankfully no one was killed in this attack.

 

Islamic Terrorists

 

The reaction to the attacks was one of horror, sadness and anger. Most of the tourists were young men and women, enjoying the summer nightlife of Bali. It seemed incredible that someone could launch an attack on such innocent victims. And not only did foreign tourists lose their lives: a large number of Balinese and Indonesian workers and residents were also killed in the attack.

As the investigation began, it became clear that the attacks were made by a terrorist organization. The bomb was found to be manufactured of ammonium nitrate, which is used as a type of fertiliser in Indonesia, suggesting that the perpetrators were local rather than from a foreign country. Suspicion immediately fell on an outspoken cleric named Abu Bakar Bashir, leader of the Indonesian Mujaheeden Council, who had repeatedly made anti-Western statements and was known to be a strong critic of the Indonesian government. He was also alleged to be the spiritual leader of the Islamic terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiah and to have links with al-Qaeda. However, he denied these connections and stated that the bombs were planted by the United States intelligence agencies, a theory that few believed. Other suspects included Aris Munandar, an associate of Bashir’s, and Mohammad Abdullah Sughayer, who was thought to be bankrolling Abu Sayyaf, a guerrilla organization from the Philippines.

 

No Remorse

 

In April 2003, Abu Bakar Bashir was charged with treason for attempting to overthrow the government and set up an Islamic theocracy in its place. The complex case against him involved charges relating to a series of bomb attacks in South-East Asia, including a series of attacks on Christian churches in Indonesia, which claimed 18 victims. However, there was not enough evidence presented at court to convict him of the crimes, although he was jailed for immigration offences.

In October 2004, Bashir was once again arrested and charged, this time for his part in an attack at the Marriott Hotel in Jarkarta the year before, which resulted in the deaths of 14 people. As well as the charges relating to the Marriott Hotel attack, there were secondary charges regarding conspiracy in the Bali bomb attack of 2002. Once again, there was not enough evidence to convict him for the main charges, but he was convicted of conspiracy in the 2002 attack. Bashire was given a sentence of two and a half years’ imprisonment.

There was dismay in Australia and the USA that Bashir was not given a longer sentence, and there was also outrage when he was released four months earlier than the sentence imposed. Showing no remorse, Bashir came out of prison to cheering crowds. He was escorted by numerous bodyguards, waving a book that he had published to coincide with his release. Afterwards, he told the press that the Australian prime minister, John Howard, should convert to Islam, and that if he did not, he would go to hell.

 

Death By Firing Squad

 

The authorities did, however, manage to gain some convictions in the Bali bombing, much to the relief of those who had lost their loved ones in the attack. The individuals named were Amrozi bin Haji Nurhasyim, who was accused of procuring the explosives and the van used to store them outside the Sari Club, his brothers Ali Imron and Ali Ghufron, and Imam Samudra.

Amrozi, as he came to be known, was the fifth of 13 children, who became well known for his confident air during the trial. In fact, he appeared so calm and untroubled by his situation that he came to be known as ‘the smiling assassin’. Amrozi denied being a member of Jemaah Islamiya, but he said that he had done his duty to God, in support of all Muslims around the world. He was sentenced to death by firing squad. However, this method of execution has since been ruled illegal in Indonesia, so he has remained in prison.

Imam Samudra, apparently the intellectual of the group, was sentenced to death for organizing the bombings. Remembered as a quiet, studious child in his native village of Serang, West Java, he later became a religious teacher and then travelled to Afghanistan to fight for the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime there. Chillingly, after the bombs went off, he stayed in the Kuta area for several days to witness the devastation caused.

Ali Gufron, also known as Mukhlas, was also sentenced to death. The older brother of Amrozi, he was a preacher, and he is thought to have persuaded his brothers to become terrorists. As the trial progressed, it became clear that he was the mastermind behind the whole plot, and also that he was firmly convinced that he was fighting a ‘jihad’, or holy war, against the West. He stated that the attacks were made in order to avenge Muslims for the United States’ tyranny against them in the Middle East, and he claimed that he was the head of Jemaah Islamiyah. He also said that he knew Osama bin Laden personally, and had fought with the Mujahideen in Afghanistan.

 

Remorseful Tears

 

Unlike his two brothers, the other man accused, Ali Imron, had a change of heart after the bombings, and during his trial he showed a great deal of remorse for his crimes. He apologized to the relatives of the victims, even dissolving into tears at some points, and co-operated as much as he could with the prosecution throughout. However, despite his expressions of regret, he was given a life sentence. His part in the crime had been a central one, mixing and packing the explosives for the bomb, and training the two suicide bombers who had mounted the attack.

Also suspected of playing a part in the 2002 attack was Riduan Isamuddin, known as Hambali. Hambali is thought to have been the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah and the main contact for al-Qaeda in South-East Asia. He was arrested in Ayutthaya, near Bangkok, by American and Thai intelligence, and he has been kept in American custody ever since. Reports suggest that the USA does not want to hand Hambali over to the authorities in Indonesia, for fear his sentence will not be harsh enough. Today, his whereabouts are kept secret, but it is thought that he may be held in Jordan.

 

Muslim Superpower

 

From what is known of Hambali, it appears that he wanted to create a Muslim theocracy across the whole of South-East Asia, with himself at the head of it. This superpower, with a population of around 420 million and a massive army, would have been able to have military power of the region, and control all trade, shipping and other interests there.

As a major operator in terrorist circles, Hambali was friendly with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who was behind the September 11 attacks. After the 2002 Bali bombing, Hambali became a top terrorist suspect, and he was eventually tracked down and arrested. However, he has not yet been brought to trial.

To date, none of those convicted of the 2002 Bali bombing have been put to death. In Australia, there is no death penalty, but a recent poll showed that a majority of citizens there feel that the Indonesian courts should impose the death sentence for the crimes the terrorists have committed. The Australian government have also agreed not to ask Indonesia to withhold the death penalty in this instance.