ABC AUSTRALIA, 06/09/2004 21:01:30
Supporters of Indonesian terror suspect Bashir clash with police
Supporters of the radical Indonesian cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, have clashed with
police in the capital, Jakarta, after a court ruled he should stay in jail to face a trial on
terrorism charges.
Our Indonesia correspondent, Tim Palmer, says Bashir's lawyers asked the court to
release him because of a constitutional court decision in July.
Bashir's legal team argued that the decision that Section 16 of Indonesia's anti-terror
act was unconstitutional meant Bashir should be released from detention
immediately.
But the district court rejected the application because Bashir is also being held under
other sections of the act and it declared his detention legal.
That was the signal for one supporter to throw a sandal at the judge and for dozens of
others to set upon police before fleeing the court.
Bashir was re-arrested in April, immediately after serving a sentence for immigration
offences.
He was detained as prosecutors prepared to charge him for the October 2002 Bali
bombings, which killed 202 people.
However, a decision last month by Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled out the
retroactive use of an anti-terror law introduced after the Bali attack.
Police then amended the charge sheet, principally tying Bashir to an August 2003
attack on Jakarta's Marriott hotel that left 12 dead.
06/09/2004 21:01:30 | ABC Radio Australia News
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