ABC AUSTRALIA, 10/02/2003 11:26:04
Confessions confirm Australians were targeted
10/02/2003 11:26:04 | AM
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Transcripts of the confessions of those charged with the Bali bombings confirm that
Australians were deliberately targeted in the attacks, which killed about 180 people,
88 of them Australians.
Transcript:
LINDA MOTTRAM: Transcripts of the confessions of those charged with the Bali
bombings confirm that Australians were deliberately targeted in the attacks, which
killed about 180 people, 88 of them Australians.
The ABC's Four Corners program reports on the latest tonight, with one of those
arrested over the attack saying that Bali was chosen for the attack because of its
popularity with Australians. The confession again goes to the extremists' claim that
Australia is part of a conspiracy with the United States and Great Britain among
others, against Islam.
Four Corners' findings have emerged amid continuing regional concern that senior
members of Jemaah Islamiah, the group behind the bombings, are still at large and
planning more attacks.
Hamish Fitzsimmons reports.
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: The confessions make it clear Australians were the main
target of the Bali bombing due to the Government's support for the United States and
its intervention in East Timor.
The man believed to be the field commander of Jemaah Islamiah in the region,
Samudra, lists 13 reasons for singling out the popular holiday island. Two of the first
three mention Australia.
SAMUDRA [translated]: One, to oppose the barbarity of the US army of the cross,
and its allies – England, Australia and so on. Two, to take revenge for the 200,000
men, women and children and babies who died [inaudible] when thousands of tonnes
of bombs were dropped in Afghanistan. Three, Australia had taken part in efforts to
separate East Timor from Indonesia, which was an international conspiracy by
followers of the cross.
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: The transcripts obtained by the ABC's Four Corners
program reveal the meticulous planning behind the attacks on Paddy's bar and the
Sari nightclub on the 12th of October last year.
The program also reveals that five of the people arrested in connection with the
bombing so far name the Muslim cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir as having foreknowledge of
and endorsing the attacks.
One of the alleged bombers, Muklas says in his confession that people from countries
which have behaved despotically towards Muslims were singled out.
MUKLAS [translated]: We planned the explosion in Bali because there are many
places in Bali that are visited by tourists from these countries – such as the United
States, England, France, Australia, Israel and other countries who behave
despotically towards Muslims.
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: Muklas goes on to describe the elation he felt after the
bombing.
MUKLAS [translated]: I felt grateful because, in my opinion, the planned mission and
objective had been achieved because there were many casualties from amongst
American allies, including Australian citizens.
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: But the lawyer for Samudra, Wirawan Adnan, told Channel
Nine's 60 Minutes program he believes his client has been set up by non-Muslim
interests.
WIRAWAN ADNAN: We believe that somehow it is a set-up, so we believe that we
can assist to catch the real terrorist who is behind the Bali bombing.
LINDA MOTTRAM: The lawyer for Bali accused, Samudra, Wirawan Adnan. That
report from Hamish Fitzsimmons.
Transcripts from programs "AM", "The World Today", "PM", the "7:30 Report" and
"Lateline" are created by an independent transcription service. The ABC does not
warrant the accuracy of the transcripts. ABC Online users are advised to listen to the
audio provided on this page to verify the accuracy of the transcripts.
10/02/2003 11:26:04 | ABC Radio Australia News
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