Posted on 06/13/2006 9:17:55 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Hardline Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir walked out of a Jakarta jail today after serving time for links to the 2002 Bali bombings.
Bakir planned to return immediately to an Islamic school in central Java once dubbed the "Ivy League" of militants.
Wearing his trademark white skullcap and shawl, a smiling Bashir was surrounded by supporters shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) and by media before getting into a car and being driven away.
Seen by the West as the spiritual head of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah (JI) regional militant network, Bashir was convicted of being part of a conspiracy behind the Bali bombings that killed 202 people, many of them Australian tourists.
Southeast Asian and Western authorities blame JI for the Indonesian resort island attack and other strikes in the region.
Supporters greet cleric
Hundreds of Bashir supporters from hardline Muslim groups were outside the jail waiting to welcome him. Scores of police were also on hand and security was tight.
Bashir's son, Rohim, punching his fist in the air with joy, told reporters: "I'm very happy right now. All things have been resolved, and he is free now".
Asked about possible police surveillance of his father, he said: "I don't care about it. If they want to watch, go ahead".
There had been little international comment on Bashir's scheduled release. But Australian and US officials have in the past criticised Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, for giving him a relatively light sentence and for subsequently reducing the term.
JI revival predicted
Analysts say militants could use Bashir's release to revive Jemaah Islamiah, which police say has become decentralised, with factions splitting off and operating independently.
"The perception among security forces is that the release may help consolidation moves as they (JI) have been torn after the death of their leader," said University of Indonesia security analyst Andi Widjajanto.
He was referring to alleged terrorism mastermind Azahari bin Husin who was killed in a police raid late last year.
Bashir was arrested several days after the 2002 Bali blasts for investigations on separate crimes and later spent 18 months in jail for minor immigration offences after treason charges against him were dismissed or overturned in court.
Police rearrested him for suspected links with the Bali attacks as he was leaving prison in April 2004. A court last year sentenced him to 30 months in jail after finding him guilty of being part of a conspiracy behind the bombings.
Back to school
The 67-year-old cleric, who has called al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden a true Islamic warrior, denies any wrongdoing. He insists Jemaah Islamiah does not exist, and Indonesian courts have dismissed charges that he led the network.
His walk to freedom comes after a reduction in his sentence from remissions he received on Indonesia's 60th independence celebration last August and because of time served in detention.
Bashir plans to take a 12-hour overland ride to the Al-Mukmin Islamic school he co-founded near the city of Solo, around 480 km (300 miles) from Jakarta, where a low-key homecoming awaits him.
"We have been told by him that we don't need to be festive. If we celebrate, it will poke some sick-hearted people and they could become sicker," principal Farid Ma'ruf said by telephone from the Central Java school.
Several graduates of the school, popularly known as "Ngruki" after the neighbourhood where it is located, are in prison for involvement in terrorism. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group has branded the school the "Ivy League" of militants.
However, Indonesian authorities have reviewed its curriculum and say they found no inclination toward terrorism.
Indonesian officials say that despite the capture of nearly 300 people suspected of violating anti-terrorism laws, violent militants remain a serious threat in Indonesia, a vast archipelago with 17,000 islands and 220 million people.
Back to school
The 67-year-old cleric, who has called al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden a true Islamic warrior, denies any wrongdoing. He insists Jemaah Islamiah does not exist, and Indonesian courts have dismissed charges that he led the network.
His walk to freedom comes after a reduction in his sentence from remissions he received on Indonesia's 60th independence celebration last August and because of time served in detention.
Bashir plans to take a 12-hour overland ride to the Al-Mukmin Islamic school he co-founded near the city of Solo, around 480 km (300 miles) from Jakarta, where a low-key homecoming awaits him.
"We have been told by him that we don't need to be festive. If we celebrate, it will poke some sick-hearted people and they could become sicker," principal Farid Ma'ruf said by telephone from the Central Java school.
Several graduates of the school, popularly known as "Ngruki" after the neighbourhood where it is located, are in prison for involvement in terrorism. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group has branded the school the "Ivy League" of militants.
However, Indonesian authorities have reviewed its curriculum and say they found no inclination toward terrorism.
Indonesian officials say that despite the capture of nearly 300 people suspected of violating anti-terrorism laws, violent militants remain a serious threat in Indonesia, a vast archipelago with 17,000 islands and 220 million people.
don't worry.. one day the Zarqawi treatment will find its way there
One can hope that a GPS locator tag was embedded under his sternum to be activated at a later date to guide in a personalized 500 lbs. munition.
ping
Not to worry, I think God has been doing a fair job recently.
Help murder 200 people, get 2 years in jail.
Um, fabulous. Freakin' fabulous.
dont short lead
its a far cheaper investment
I'm sure lots of tourists are going to hurry to Indonesia now.
Good point. I wouldn't go there. For a long time, I have advised others not to go there. Some people I know have decided to go to Fiji instead.
New Zealand, New Caladonia and Malaysia are all nice place for a holiday, and must more suitable.
Again, uneducated media gets it wrong. "Allah akbar" does not mean "god is great". The Arabic word for god is "ilah". "Allah" was the name of the pagan rock god(the black rock) "Allah" is a NAME. Like "peter" is a name. "Allah Akbar" means exactly what it says. It means a rock god named Allah is great. Proof?
Read the koran it's stated 52 times that "ALLAH is the islamic gods NAME. Here is but one of those koran verses.
Qur’an 20:8 “Allah! There is no Ilah (God) save Him. His are the most beautiful Names. To Him belong the most beautiful attributes.”
Ok, another, but only because they are so pathetic. Allah is so full of himself.(remember, anything in the koran is from allah itself)
Qur’an 114:1 “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men and jinn [demons], the King of men and jinn, the Ilah (God) of men and jinn.” (Oh, so allah is lord of the demons! I thought so. That makes Allah Satan!
Qur’an 20:14 “Verily, I am Allah. No Ilah (God) may be worshiped but I. So serve you Me, and perform regular prostration prayer for My praise. Verily the Hour is coming. I am almost hiding it from Myself.” (allah looks forward to doomsday, he's almost peeing his pants in anticipation. Some god!)
Where's the flipping CIA?
Are we TRYING to lose this war?
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