Pravda - Russia, 13:05 2004-10-28
Abu Bakar Bashir will spend the rest of his life in jail in any case
Indonesian Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has gone on trial accused of leading an al
Qaeda-linked militant network and of planning or inciting others to carry out attacks in
the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Prosecutors said that Bashir had ordered members of the Jemaah Islamiah group to
disseminate statements from al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden calling for war against
Americans.
The trial is an early test of promises by new President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to
fight terrorism. The U.S. embassy in Indonesia said the trial could spark violence.
Scores of Bashir's supporters screamed "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) as police
carrying M-16 assault rifles led the bespectacled preacher into court on Thursday.
Bashir first waved but then silenced his supporters by placing a finger to his lips.
"It's clear I'm not guilty. I'm sure," the 66-year-old cleric said as he arrived at the court,
and accused U.S. President George W. Bush and Australian Prime Minister John
Howard of playing a hand in his trial, informs Reuters.
According to ABC News, Indonesian Cleric Abu Bakar Bashir says he is innocent of
terrorism charges related to the Bali bombings and the bombing of the Marriott hotel
in Jakarta last year.
Bashir spoke briefly to reporters as he was being led into court to face charges which
could bring the death penalty.
"Everyone knows, even those in primary school," Bashir said, "that this trial has been
masterminded by Bush and his slave John Howard."
Bashir's supporters in the court chanted "God is great" before the prosecutor began
reading the 65-page indictment.
The indictment accuses Bashir of inciting the Bali and Marriott bombings as he
delivered a fatwah from Osama bin Laden at a Jemaah Islamiah training camp in the
Philippines in 2002.
If the capital charge of terrorism is not proved he still faces a raft of criminal charges
which could see him spending the rest of his life in jail.
The trial has now been adjourned until Thursday next week
?The US Embassy warned today that the trial of militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir
could spark violent street protests, and reiterated its standing advisory on the threat of
terrorist attacks in Indonesia.
The United States, Australia and Canada currently urge their citizens to avoid all travel
to Indonesia, citing the risk of further attacks on Western targets by the
al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah network.
In its message to US citizens in Indonesia, the embassy urged Americans to avoid
the area surrounding the court, saying demonstrations there "have the potential to turn
violent".
Bashir's arrest in April triggered running battles between supporters and police.
Scores of Bashir followers attended today's trial, but the proceedings passed off
peacefully apart from minor scuffle.
The embassy also warned of the continuing threat of terrorism in the world's most
populous Muslim nation, reports the Age.
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