November 06, 2008
JAKARTA: Islamic extremists have rallied in the Indonesian capital against the imminent execution of three Bali bombers, as defence lawyers demanded the families be allowed a final visit.
Chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greater), about 100 militants descended on the offices of the national human rights body as the bombers' lawyers met officials inside to demand access for the families.
The radicals condemned the executions, believed to be hours or days away, and praised bombers Amrozi, 47, his brother Mukhlas, 48, and Imam Samudra, 38, as “holy warriors”.
They carried banners pledging to follow the bombers' path of jihad or “holy war” and warning that “hell” awaited the executioners.
As heavy rain hit the prison island of Nusakambangan, Central Java, overnight, Indonesian media reported that the trio will be executed imminently near a disused prison at Nirbaya hill.
Rubber and coconut farmers who usually frequent the site have been told to stay away.
Television station TV One showed footage of three wooden posts erected at the jungle site, to which the three men will be secured and simultaneously shot by separate firing squads.
Defence lawyer Mahendradatta urged the human rights body, Komnas Ham, to back the families' demand for visiting rights.
Komnas Ham chairman Ifdhal Kasim said the prisoners had a right to meet their families before they faced the firing squad.
Meanwhile the families wrote to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pleading for a delay in the executions, defence lawyer Fahmi Bachmid said.
He said however that the letter was not a request for clemency. The bombers have said they want to die to become “martyrs” for their dream of creating an Islamic utopia across Southeast Asia.
The bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002 killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
The government has said the condemned men will be executed by firing squad in “early November” after they exhausted the appeals process.
JAKARTA: Islamic extremists have rallied in the Indonesian capital against the imminent execution of three Bali bombers, as defence lawyers demanded the families be allowed a final visit.
Chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greater), about 100 militants descended on the offices of the national human rights body as the bombers' lawyers met officials inside to demand access for the families.
The radicals condemned the executions, believed to be hours or days away, and praised bombers Amrozi, 47, his brother Mukhlas, 48, and Imam Samudra, 38, as “holy warriors”.
They carried banners pledging to follow the bombers' path of jihad or “holy war” and warning that “hell” awaited the executioners.
As heavy rain hit the prison island of Nusakambangan, Central Java, overnight, Indonesian media reported that the trio will be executed imminently near a disused prison at Nirbaya hill.
Rubber and coconut farmers who usually frequent the site have been told to stay away.
Television station TV One showed footage of three wooden posts erected at the jungle site, to which the three men will be secured and simultaneously shot by separate firing squads.
Defence lawyer Mahendradatta urged the human rights body, Komnas Ham, to back the families' demand for visiting rights.
Komnas Ham chairman Ifdhal Kasim said the prisoners had a right to meet their families before they faced the firing squad.
Meanwhile the families wrote to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pleading for a delay in the executions, defence lawyer Fahmi Bachmid said.
He said however that the letter was not a request for clemency. The bombers have said they want to die to become “martyrs” for their dream of creating an Islamic utopia across Southeast Asia.
The bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002 killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
The government has said the condemned men will be executed by firing squad in “early November” after they exhausted the appeals process.
Source: The Australian
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