It is seventeen years since Islamic terrorists bombed a nightclub in Bali that killed 202 people, of whom 88 were Australian. That was the work of a militant Islamic sect known as Jemaah Islamiyah and this week its spiritual leader will walk free from an Indonesian prison.
Abu Bakar Bashir is easily recognisable because we have seen his face on television many times. He is now 81 years old and his release is termed an act of clemency. This is an election year in Indonesia and as it is an Islamic country there are votes to be gained from freeing this man. Political expediency is practised widely in most parts of the world.
It is important to understand exactly what Abu Bakar Bashir was doing time in prison for when considering this release. He was originally convicted of conspiracy over his role in the bombing and he spent twenty-six months behind bars before that conviction was overturned on appeal. Then in 2011 he was charged with inciting terrorism and funding an Aceh cell which was providing military training for terrorist recruits. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and he has now six years of that term remaining.
Abu Bakar Bashir is unrepentant. He is a firebrand cleric and on release he is expected to return to the pulpit and continue his sermons of hate. He does have a following but terrorist activity in Indonesia is now subdued due to a crackdown by the security forces. The actual conspirators who built the bomb have either been executed or are serving life terms in prison.
Bali and other Indonesian holiday resorts are once again packed with Australian tourists and visitors from the rest of the world. That would not be happening if visitors were feeling unsafe and most people think that Indonesian security forces have the situation well under control. It will be irritating to many to hear that Abu Bakar Bashir has regained his freedom but is unlikely that this will have any change in the safety aspect in Bali.
No doubt Australian politicians will remonstrate with Indonesia's president Joko Widodo but that is unlikely to change the situation because the election will be held on April 17. Islam is the religion most widely practised in Indonesia but that 2002 bombing was a wakeup call that religious fanatics were stirring trouble that was not representative of the vast majority of Indonesian citizens who practised their religion peacefully. A very active security force is making extremism difficult and Bashir will be closely monitored after he is released.
The best that can be said is that he is simply a bitter old man who finds himself out of step with the rest of the world. He has had his five minutes of fame, and now it is just a matter of waiting until death claims him. Survivors of the Bali bombing will receive that news with pleasure !
No comments:
Post a Comment