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Australia mixed over Bali bombers execution, calls for end of capital punishment
Agency , Sydney | Sun, 11/09/2008 8:49 AM | World
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the day the three Bali bombers were executed was a sad day for Australians.
"It's not a day that fills us with any joy or with any celebration," he told ABC Television. "My first thoughts are for the families of the victims of both the Bali ombings, it's just in my view a terrible reminder of a terrible, horrible event that occurred to family members."
He said Australia, which opposes the death penalty, will press for an international moratorium on capital punishment.
The three Bali bombers -- Imam Samudra, Amrozi Nurhasyim and his brother Ali Ghufron -- were executed early Sunday morning for their 2002 nightclub bombings on the resort island of Bali that left 202 people dead, many of them foreign tourists.
The dead included 88 Australians, 28 Britons and eight Americans - most of them revelers fleeing the first blast.
Brian Deegan, who lost Hisson Josh in the bombings, said he felt "a whole lot of mixed emotions" with the news of the executions of .
He staunchly opposes capital punishment and worries about revenge attacks in the wake of the executions.
"There's no shortage around the world of persons that are prepared to commit suicide to acieve a result," he said.
But Sydney resident Maria Kotronakis said she was very happy after the execution of the bombers who helped kill her two sisters and two cousins.
"We're very happy ... we've waited a very long time for this and this is our justice," Kotronakis told CNN. She said the bombers hd "lost their rights to anything that's human."
What's On
- Indonesia Furniture Fair
11/14/2009 11/22/2009 Jakarta Convention Center - Indonesia Maternity & Baby Expo 2009
11/20/2009 11/22/2009 Jakarta Convention Center
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Iain (not verified) — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 1:50pm
Lady; yes, the world media has given a lot of attention to the local victims of the Bali bombing and the embassy bombing.
Actually, there are funds that have been created to support the families of the Indonesians killed through the bombings. Also, there have been extensive campaigns for tourists to get back to Bali as a more effective way of helping the locals.
Try and keep your pessimism in check.
Jaka (not verified) — Sun, 11/09/2008 - 8:25pm
Oh come on Australia, puhleeez ... . We are just trying to show you our commitment to protect your interests. We are neighbour, arent we? Please give us some rooms to show our authorities to our "naughty children" if they disturb yours.
Jono (not verified) — Sun, 11/09/2008 - 6:12pm
It is quite simple. There is cause and effect. If you kill you will be killed. It doesn't take a genius to figure this out. You will be held accountable. If the country's laws say that if you murder you will be executed what could be clearer. No one is forcing someone to murder-it's a choice. And know the consequences.
Bush Baby (not verified) — Sun, 11/09/2008 - 4:32pm
The Indonesian government should be commended for serving justice. It would have been much easier to deny the death penalty. This was not done without a fair trial, or for a trivial offense. No one is seeking vengeance here, just justice. Dan and the other Aussies should not complain or liken this to war time atrocities. There is an awful lot of violent crime in Australia, and denying justice through the death penalty hasn't improved the situation, has it?
Lady (not verified) — Sun, 11/09/2008 - 4:23pm
I'm Indonesian, I'm a muslim and living abroad. When I grew up as a child in Indonesia, capital punishment has been conducted a long time ago. Indonesian government are followed the process of law, and if you are found guilty killing people, you will be executed. The three Bali bombers are just common murders, forget that they are martyrs or muslim. We have to remember that Indonesian is a secular country, whether they are Muslim, Christian, Hindu or Budhist, if you kill people you will get punished. What about the the other Indonesian families that had been killed during the bombing, have they got sympathy as well from world media???
Porky Pig (not verified) — Sun, 11/09/2008 - 2:06pm
i dont really agree with capital punishment...BUT...the in this case it was right....the indonesian government were not able to keep these killers from inciting more violence even though they were on death row....there is no way they hould have been allowed to preach, give interviews etc....they are not heroes or celebrities....
Moh. Nafik (not verified) — Sun, 11/09/2008 - 10:11am
Anyone who has read 'The Prince'(1532) by Machiavelli would surely understand the dangers of creating Martyrs, which is exactly what these murderers wanted.
Dan (not verified) — Sun, 11/09/2008 - 9:33am
As an Australian I am appalled at the state murder of these bombers. I have no time for their crimes but to see the Indonesian state prepare for the murder of these men is chilling. Capital punishment is wrong and a sign of a violent society. There is also hypocrisy in the justice system. Indonesians generals murder thousands of Timorese and walk free while these bombers are killed.