ID :
29161
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 21:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/29161
The shortlink copeid
Bali bombers` execution looks imminent
There is a strong chance that on Sunday morning the three men responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings will be dead. All signs are pointing to the execution early Australian time Sunday of Islamic
militants Amrozi, his brother Mukhlas and Imam Samudra.
Preparations have reportedly been ready for days, and journalists in Jakarta have been told to gather outside the Indonesian attorney-general's office from late Saturday night. The brothers' sibling, Ali Fauzi, was reportedly making his way to the Nusakambangan Island prison, in Central Java, but it was unclear if he would be allowed to see his brothers one last time.
There were contradictory local media reports about the visit - it is unclear whether it was for one last meeting with the men, or to ensure their bodies post-execution are treated in accordance with Islamic custom.
Indonesia's news agency Antara reported the men's wives were also in attendance, but most other reports said Fauzi was travelling alone under the guard of authorities. Secrecy surrounds the execution process, and, as a result, unsourced reports, speculation and rumours have swirled across Indonesia in the past week.
Online news site detik.com, quoting unnamed sources, reported Fauzi would witness their executions before taking care of arrangements to transport their bodies back to their villages for burial.
Prosecutors arrived in the dead of night at the home village of Amrozi and Mukhlas, in Tenggulun, East Java, to pick up Fauzi and escort him to the prison by car. The men's families were visited by prosecutors on Friday and police and told to "get ready" for their deaths by firing squad.
When the execution process finally gets underway, the three men will be taken from
their separate isolation cells in three, separate, heavily-guarded trucks to
Nirbaya, an orchard six kilometres away, the Suara Merdeka newspaper reported.
After the execution, the bodies will be taken to a nearby medical centre for an
autopsy and cleaning, before taken to a helipad and transported to the family
villages for burial.
Local newspaper Radar Banyumas quoted Fauzi as saying the brothers wanted to be
wrapped in cloth bought by the family through the most "halal" (correct) means,
using the proceeds from the sale of peanuts from the family field.
They wanted the bodies cleaned, wrapped and prayed over according to Islamic custom.
Local police have reportedly demanded the family comply with set burial arrangements
or risk the bodies being buried elsewhere, sparking threats of retribution from the
families and possibly jeopardising the visit by Fauzi.
One source told the newspaper the men would not be given a final family visit for
security reasons.
"Who can guarantee if he won't give a message to the family to fight, we are afraid
there will be mass radicalisation," a source told Radar Banyumas.
Protests by Islamic militants against the executions have been slowly building as
the execution process is dragged out.
On Friday hardline cleric Abu Bakar Bashir led about 100 supporters in a march
through the Central Java city of Solo, claiming there was no proof the men were
responsible for the Bali blasts.
The Australian government also today warned of reprisal attacks which could follow
the executions of the Bali bombers.
The warning says school graduates, in particular, should exercise "heightened
caution" if they are planning late year schoolies' trips to the island.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith today said in Perth that the travel advice to
Indonesia had not changed from the second highest level of "reconsider your need to
travel."
But he said the government was receiving new "credible evidence" of the threat of
terrorist attacks.
Among the warnings he singled out in the travel advisory were that "the executions
could prompt a strong reaction from their supporters such as demonstrations, acts of
violence and reprisal attacks".
Tourists should be especially careful around beaches, bars, malls and other venues
associated with tourists, the advice says.
"We continue to receive credible information that Bali remains an attractive target
for terrorists.
militants Amrozi, his brother Mukhlas and Imam Samudra.
Preparations have reportedly been ready for days, and journalists in Jakarta have been told to gather outside the Indonesian attorney-general's office from late Saturday night. The brothers' sibling, Ali Fauzi, was reportedly making his way to the Nusakambangan Island prison, in Central Java, but it was unclear if he would be allowed to see his brothers one last time.
There were contradictory local media reports about the visit - it is unclear whether it was for one last meeting with the men, or to ensure their bodies post-execution are treated in accordance with Islamic custom.
Indonesia's news agency Antara reported the men's wives were also in attendance, but most other reports said Fauzi was travelling alone under the guard of authorities. Secrecy surrounds the execution process, and, as a result, unsourced reports, speculation and rumours have swirled across Indonesia in the past week.
Online news site detik.com, quoting unnamed sources, reported Fauzi would witness their executions before taking care of arrangements to transport their bodies back to their villages for burial.
Prosecutors arrived in the dead of night at the home village of Amrozi and Mukhlas, in Tenggulun, East Java, to pick up Fauzi and escort him to the prison by car. The men's families were visited by prosecutors on Friday and police and told to "get ready" for their deaths by firing squad.
When the execution process finally gets underway, the three men will be taken from
their separate isolation cells in three, separate, heavily-guarded trucks to
Nirbaya, an orchard six kilometres away, the Suara Merdeka newspaper reported.
After the execution, the bodies will be taken to a nearby medical centre for an
autopsy and cleaning, before taken to a helipad and transported to the family
villages for burial.
Local newspaper Radar Banyumas quoted Fauzi as saying the brothers wanted to be
wrapped in cloth bought by the family through the most "halal" (correct) means,
using the proceeds from the sale of peanuts from the family field.
They wanted the bodies cleaned, wrapped and prayed over according to Islamic custom.
Local police have reportedly demanded the family comply with set burial arrangements
or risk the bodies being buried elsewhere, sparking threats of retribution from the
families and possibly jeopardising the visit by Fauzi.
One source told the newspaper the men would not be given a final family visit for
security reasons.
"Who can guarantee if he won't give a message to the family to fight, we are afraid
there will be mass radicalisation," a source told Radar Banyumas.
Protests by Islamic militants against the executions have been slowly building as
the execution process is dragged out.
On Friday hardline cleric Abu Bakar Bashir led about 100 supporters in a march
through the Central Java city of Solo, claiming there was no proof the men were
responsible for the Bali blasts.
The Australian government also today warned of reprisal attacks which could follow
the executions of the Bali bombers.
The warning says school graduates, in particular, should exercise "heightened
caution" if they are planning late year schoolies' trips to the island.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith today said in Perth that the travel advice to
Indonesia had not changed from the second highest level of "reconsider your need to
travel."
But he said the government was receiving new "credible evidence" of the threat of
terrorist attacks.
Among the warnings he singled out in the travel advisory were that "the executions
could prompt a strong reaction from their supporters such as demonstrations, acts of
violence and reprisal attacks".
Tourists should be especially careful around beaches, bars, malls and other venues
associated with tourists, the advice says.
"We continue to receive credible information that Bali remains an attractive target
for terrorists.
