Bali bomb trio expect death

DENPASAR - An Islamic militant appeared in court yesterday in the first of a series of trials over the Bali bombings, which the prosecution said were driven by a desire for revenge on the United States and its allies.

Amrozi, a 40-year-old mechanic and dubbed by the press the laughing bomber, was stony-faced as he took the defendant's chair and fidgeted as the prosecution read out the lengthy indictment.

Outside, hundreds of police surrounded the courthouse in Bali's capital, helicopters hovered overhead and sharpshooters nervously eyed the area.

Amrozi has been charged under tough new anti-terrorism laws with helping plot terror acts and is accused of buying explosive materials and a minivan that was later turned into a massive bomb. He faces the death penalty.

Prosecutors said Amrozi took part in six planning meetings for the October 12 attacks that killed 202 people, including three New Zealanders. Many of the victims were young foreigners enjoying a night out in packed bars along Bali's famous Kuta Beach strip.

Prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan, reading from the 33-page indictment, said the accused "talked about the Muslim obligation towards other Muslims who have been repressed and slaughtered by the US and its allies in Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir ... and Iraq". Bali is mainly Hindu.

The trial was adjourned for a week to give the prosecution time to respond to legal objections from the defence. Amrozi, sporting a goatee and wearing a long white Muslim shirt, was ushered out under heavy security.

The case is the first of a series that will test the Indonesian Government's commitment to stamping out Islamic radicalism in the world's most populous Muslim nation. More than 30 people, including two of Amrozi's brothers, are expected to be tried.

Officials say the trials could also provide details of how Jemaah Islamiyah, the radical Southeast Asian Muslim network blamed for the bombings, operates.

Amrozi's lawyers said the indictment failed to show their client took part in the planning of the bombings.

"There is not even one description in the indictment that can support the charges that the defendant was a planner," lawyer A Wirawan Adnan told the court, triggering loud jeers from 100 Balinese watching on television in a neighbouring compound.

Three of the Bali bombers said that their victims were sinners who deserved to die.

Bomb maker Ali Imron, 38, Amrozi's brother, told a British newspaper that the Sari Club was targeted because he thought it would be full of Americans.

Only seven Americans were killed.

"Australians, Americans, whatever - they are all white people," Ali told the Sunday Times. "The Sari Club was a place of adultery. In short, it was a place of sin so it deserved to be demolished."

Also to be tried is Imam Samudra, 34, who masterminded the logistics.

All three said they expected to be executed by firing squad.

Amrozi, who predicted a death sentence, said Allah would look after his children and wives better than he had.

Imam said he was inspired to attack "infidels" after hearing of discrimination against Muslims in the Palestinian territories.

He said he read Arabic-language books about jihad while studying in Malaysia, then went to Afghanistan for guerrilla training.

"I went to Osama bin Laden's sermons sometimes but I wasn't inspired to do jihad by him or his teachings," he said.

"There is a lot of immorality in Bali. It is a place where drug dealers, local and international, do their transactions.

"Why did we pick the Sari Club? Because no Indonesian or Malay was allowed to enter the place."

Both Ali and Imam plan to publish books spreading their views.

Amrozi's demeanour in court was far different from the scene at a public police interrogation a month after the bombings when he appeared to express delight at the attacks.

Few foreign survivors attended the hearing, but several Indonesian victims' relatives were present. Two left sobbing before the session ended.

Australian Peter Hughes, still wearing bandages for burns scars on his arms, told reporters at the back of the courtroom that he felt something lift from him when he saw Amrozi walk in. "To be honest with you, this is the best thing that could have happened."

Garment trader Komang Budhi, 25, wearing a white singlet with the words Cry Bali and Black October emblazoned on the front, said all Balinese had suffered greatly after the bombing.

"All those who did it should be put to death."

- REUTERS


Herald Feature: Bali bomb blast