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March 2, 2008

Indonesia: Bali Islamist Bomber Has No Remorse

Today's Sunday Times contains extracts of an interview with Imam Samudra, one of the three convicted bombers who is due to soon be executed. 38-year old Samudra, Ali Ghufron aka Mukhlas and Ghufron's brother Amrozi bin Nurhasyim were found guilty of carrying out the bombings on Bali on October 12, 2002, killing 202 people. Ali Imron, a brother of Mukhlas and Amrozi was also convicted in 2003, but because of his expressed remorse, he was spared capital punishment and was given a life sentence. The four individuals were all members of the terror group Jemaah Islamiyah,

In 2005 it was revealed that Samudra, who had been convicted on September 18, 2003, had become a best-selling author while in prison. He had published a book in which he vented his hatred of America and explained why Bali had been a target for bombing.

In August 2006 it was revealed that Samudra had used a smuggled laptop computer while in prison on Bali. Using this computer he had accessed the internet, and had helped to raise funds for another attack upon Bali. In October 2005, after a second Jemaah Islamiyah bomb attack which took place on October 1, public outrage caused Samudra and the two others facing the death penalty to be moved to an island prison.

The Sunday Times interview between Samudra and Michael Sheridan took place on February 26 this year. It was held in the visiting room of Nusa Kambangan Prison Island off the southern coast of Java. Here Samudra, Mukhlas and Amrozi are being held before their execution. These are a few extracts:

MS: Your lawyer, Mr Michdan has told us that you did not expect so many people to be killed.

IM: Actually no. Because, before I did the action I already learning explosives inside Afghanistan. For example when I was in Afghanistan I knew basically of two explosives, what is TNT, what is C4 and what is potassium nitrate. As you know, I may be an expert - Potassium chlorate, KCl04, not big as in Bali - explosives not too big. Even one time not too big...

IM: My object (target) was not Muslims my object was only anti-Muslims especially people from USA, from Australia and member of Nato and elements of what the people call the alliance because they know it's a Crusader army. Allah says our fight is with the USA and alliance.

This is my action, simply for protection (of Muslims) I found a location. Two months before I came to Bali I did a survey and I was reading up on tourism in Indonesia. At least one month before 12 October (2002) I observed the Zionists (in) that thing I blew (up). I know they are using it and then also I know I can spread this, with Australia, with Aussie, so before the action I already know it was a discretion between Muslims and non-Muslims.

MS: Some Muslims were killed, however.

IM: I don't know if they are Muslims. Because they are also customers. Muslims in jilbab (Islamic clothing) in Bali? (Unclear)....

MS: What would you say to relatives of people who died in the Bali bomb, if you were in this room now with family members who lost people - what would you say to them?

IM: Firstly to Muslim people I would say pardon, but Muslims only. But they must know what is my reason, what is my objective for the action? I did this action just to help them.

MS: For the Muslims?

IM: For the Muslims, Yeah! So I say to them, Allah with them, Allah with us. While the unbelievers - they must be entering into hell. (Recites Arabic verse from the Koran) Allah says to all unbelievers that (this) road will bring you to hell. And they will be the loser. Referring also to your country, the UK, the United Kingdom, your country will lose of course, because Allah says that only Muslims will win, Muslims will be the winners.

Samudra claimed in the interview that in Bali in 2002, there had been too many people killed, even though this is the only sign of any doubts in his mind.

Amrozi had entered the visiting room during the interview, and said: "My smile is my weapon. It makes my enemies upset. This is a very special weapon for jihad."

It is true that his mannerisms, smiling and laughing outside the courtroom during his trial had offended the relatives of victims. Amrozi said he had read 500 books in prison. He said: "I have received a sixth sense from Allah, which indicates to me one or two days in advance anything massive that may happen in the world."

In October last year, Amrozi told Reuters: "People ask me, why am I smiling? I am happy because I will be united with 72 angels in heaven. I have killed many with my bombs. I have been tested by spending time in this prison, but if you make infidels angry you will be rewarded."

The plotter who probably planned the Bali attacks of 2002 is most likely an individual called Dulmatin, who fled to the Philippines in 2005. Dulmatin may have been killed in Tawi-Tawi in the south-west Philippines on January 31, 2008. A body was recovered in a shallow grave after a fire fight with the army. This body has been examined for DNA evidence to confirm if it is the corpse of Dulmatin. The results of the tests, which have been carried out by Filipino and FBI forensic scientists, are still pending.

On Friday last week, the International Crisis Group (ICG) warned that Indonesia needs to keep a close eye on a publishing network linked to Jemaah Islamiyah. Though it is agreed that Jemaah Islamiyah has been "broken" as an active terrorist threat, it is believed that the group is using the printed word to spread a message of radicalism.

Sidney Jones, Crisis Group's Senior Adviser, said: "These publishers are disseminating a radical message, but they also may be playing a positive role by channelling JI energies into jihad through the printed word rather than through acts of violence." Dr Jones is regarded as the foremost expert on the activities of JI. She has written numerous papers on the group. The full ICG report (Asia Report No 147) can be found here. Entitled "Indonesia: Jemaah Islamiyah's Publishing Industry", it can be downloaded directly as a 25-page pdf document.

In separate news, on Wednesday a leading Jemaah Islamiyah member, Mas Selamat Kastari, escaped from custody in SIngapore. Kastari was being held in jail without trial at Whitley Road Detention Center, in central SIngapore. He had been arrested in 2003 and had been convicted and sentenced to 18 months in jail. While being moved from his cell and awaiting a family visit, Kastari managed to escape from his Gurkha captors while allowed a toilet break.

The news of Kastari's escape is carried by AFP, Associated Press, TVNZ, the Melbourne Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Reuters.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 2, 2008 10:15 PM

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