The Age [Australia], October 18 2002
No sympathy for the dead, but Bashir denies any guilt
October 18 2002
By Matthew Moore
Indonesia Correspondent
Jakarta
If a lack of sympathy was a guide to guilt, then Indonesia's best-known radical Muslim
would be rightly convicted of the Bali bombings.
Abu Bakar Bashir is the elderly cleric Western intelligence has identified as the man
most likely to have organised Saturday night's Kuta slaughter.
While he firmly denies any involvement in the carnage, there's no sign from Bashir,
the head of a Muslim boys' boarding school, of sympathy for those young
Westerners, about the same age as his charges, who perished in those "sinful
nightclubs".
In a land dominated by moderate Muslims, Mr Bashir is a genuine radical. And he's
not about to compromise his views or his comments to make his message more
palatable for "infidels" in the West, even those in Australia grieving now for their lost
loved ones.
Asked if there was anything he wanted to say to families who lost relatives in the
bomb blast, he said: "My message to the families is please convert to Islam as soon
as possible."
Mr Bashir offered no sympathy for those who died; just his belief that by converting to
Islam, the survivors could ensure they would avoid the fate of those non-Muslims who
died and went to hell.
Sitting cross-legged on the carpet in a run-down house that serves as headquarters
for the Indonesia Mujahideen Council, an umbrella group for a cluster of radical
Muslim groups, the gently spoken cleric also had a more ominous message he
wanted conveyed to Australians.
"The second message is for Australia because you suffered the most: please advise
your government not to follow the US policy because it will bring tragedy for your
country."
Singapore, the US and Australia have accused Mr Bashir of running an organisation
called Jemaah Islamiah they say wants to form a huge Asian Muslim state. But Mr
Bashir says the organisation is an invention of the West, the West that he also
claims were the ones responsible for the bomb.
"I think the bomb was done by foreign intelligence, especially US intelligence. The
indications are Americans and Jews did it to justify the claims that have been made
so far that Indonesia is a terrorist haven. What they mean by terrorists is Muslims.
"So to prove their theory they created the incident in Bali."
Pressed on who from the US might actually have done the bombing, he said: "I don't
know who planted the bomb.
"It's possible Americans hired Indonesians. My understanding is Americans hired
Indonesians."
Mr Bashir, though, would not condemn the bombings.
"Such places will be banned if we have Islamic government. Although it doesn't have
to be destroyed, it must be prohibited because it corrupts the morals of society."
Pushed on whether he believed it was good that a "sinful" place had been destroyed
he said only: "The building can still be used for a mosque."
Mr Bashir has avoided arrest partly because the government has no anti-terrorism
laws under which he could be picked up with no evidence.
That is about to change with a new regulation to be introduced allowing detention
without trial, which Mr Bashir reckons is aimed at him. If he was arrested he promised
to "fight back with the powers I have".
What real powers they are is the question that still remains unanswered.
Copyright © 2002 The Age Company Ltd
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