Paras Indonesia, 10, 11 2005 @ 10:10 pm
Death Row Bali Bombers Transferred to Nusakambangan
Roy Tupai
Three Islamic militants sentenced to death for organizing the 2002 Bali nightclub
bombings have been transferred from the resort island's main jail to a remote island
prison off the southern coast of Central Java province amid mounting demands for their
execution.
Scores of heavily armed police were present on Tuesday (11/10/05) as Amrozi, Imam
Samudra and Mukhlas (alias Ali Ghufron) – with their heads covered by hoods – were
led out of Kerobokan jail and transported by armored vehicles to Denpasar's Ngurah
Rai International Airport. They were then flown to Tunggul Wulung Airport in the
Central Java city of Cilacap, from where they were taken by boat to Nusakambangan
island's Batu penitentiary.
The October 12, 2002, bombings at the Sari Club and Paddy's Irish Pub killed 202
people, mostly foreign tourists, shattering the myth that predominantly Hindu Bali was
immune to terror attacks. The blasts were blamed on regional terrorism network
Jemaah Islamiyah.
Bali was again hit by terror attacks on October 1, 2005, when suicide bombings at
three restaurants killed 23 people and injured more than 140.
The latest attacks, which are also being blamed on Jemaah Islamiyah, have caused
considerable anger in Bali, prompting hundreds of locals to take to the streets on
Monday to demand the immediate execution of Amrozi, Samudra and Mukhlas. The
demonstration, which was joined by local legislators, students and tourism industry
workers, was staged nearby Kerobokan jail. The protesters had threatened to conduct
a similar demonstration on Wednesday – the third anniversary of the bombings.
An official of the Justice and Human Rights Ministry said the three death row inmates
were transferred for security reasons, and because Kerobokan was overcrowded and
in poor repair.
"Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Ghufron were transferred to Nusakambangan's Batu
prison for reasons of security. Furthermore, [the prison] here is already at
overcapacity," I Gede Rata, head of the Bali Law and Human Rights Office, was
quoted as saying by detikcom online news portal.
He said the jail has a capacity for 323 inmates but is currently occupied by 791
prisoners. Among the inmates at Kerobokan are: Australian Schapelle Corby, serving
a 20-year sentence for marijuana smuggling; and nine Australians being tried on
heroin smuggling charges. Australian model Michelle Lee, facing trial for ecstasy
possession, is due to be transferred from a police cell to the same jail this week.
Rata said Kerobokan was unsuitable for accommodating terrorists because its walls
are fragile, the land is unstable and security is weak.
He said the transfer of the three Bali bombers had been planned about two or three
months ago and was made at the request of Justice and Human Rights Minister
Hamid Awaluddin. A letter authorizing the transfer was only received on Monday
afternoon, he added.
Nineteen other militants convicted over the Bali bombings remain at Kerobokan. Three
others – Ali Imron (serving a life sentence), Mubarok (life sentence) and Ahmad
Roichan (nine years) – are behind bars at National Police headquarters in Jakarta.
Nusakambangan's Batu prison was built between 1908-12 by Indonesia's Dutch
colonial rulers as a place to isolate hardened criminals serving long sentences. In
recent years authorities in Jakarta have been sending big-name convicted corruption
felons to the island. This has prompted speculation that the affluent criminals can use
their financial clout to buy certain privileges, such as weekend leave, because the jail
is so far away from the public eye.
The most famous prisoner at Nusakambangan is former dictator Suharto's youngest
Hutomo 'Tommy' Mandala Putra. Tommy was in 2002 sentenced to 15 years in jail for
ordering the murder of a Supreme Court judge, fleeing justice and possession of
weapons. The Supreme Court in June 2005 cut 5 years off his sentence on appeal. He
has also received numerous lengthy remissions, which could see him released by
2008. The former playboy is allowed to make monthly visits to Jakarta, ostensibly for
medical reasons, although critics say the visits are for business and pleasure.
Execution Date Uncertain
Attorney General's Office spokesman Masyhudi Ridwan could not say when Amrozi,
Samudra and Mukhlas would be executed by firing squad.
He said prosecutors would seek clarification from the Denpasar District Court on
whether the three had appealed their convictions by filing requests for a presidential
pardon or a judicial review by the Supreme Court.
"The Attorney General's Office will ask the court, through the Denpasar High
Prosecutor's Office, whether the accused, their families or lawyers, have submitted
requests for a presidential pardon or judicial review. If there are no proposals for a
presidential pardon or a judicial review, the Attorney General's Office will endeavor to
conduct the executions," he was quoted as saying by detikcom.
Bali High Court and the Supreme Court have already rejected appeals by the trio.
Ridwan said there was no deadline for the families of the three to request a
presidential pardon or judicial review.
Police are likely to want to keep the three alive for the time being, in the hope that can
they can assist with inquiries into the latest Bali bombings.
Copyright (c) 2005 - PT Laksamana Global International. All rights reserved
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