Other Publications
Govt, media blamed for bombers' martyrdom
Abdul Khalik and Dian Kuswandini , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 11/10/2008 11:16 AM | Headlines
Thousands of people packed the burial processions of the three Bali bombers amid tight security Sunday, with critics slamming the government for allowing public sympathy for the executed terrorists to boil over.
The executions of Amrozi and his brother Ali Ghufron, alias Mukhlas, and Imam Samudra were carried out after a series of delays that gave militants the opportunity to publicly voice their sympathy and stage rallies in support of the men.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the country's largest Muslim organization, denounced the three bombers as nothing but terrorists.
"They didn't die as syuhada (martyrs). Those who kill others can never die as martyrs unless they are at war in the name of religion. But we are not at war so we must not kill others," said MUI chairman Umar Shihab.
Critics blamed the increased support for the three terrorists on the government's months of indecisiveness, sympathetic media coverage and politicizing of the issue by certain groups.
"It's all the government's fault. First, it announced it would execute the three men soon, but then delayed it several times, allowing for wide media exposure that played up these men's toughness and persistence," said political expert Fachry Ali.
The time given by the government, he went on, allowed TV stations, which viewed the upcoming executions as a highly profitable event, to broadcast details of the bombers' activities and opinions -- including their rejection of government help, their isolation cells, and their books -- for weeks on a hourly basis.
This garnered sympathy not only from Muslim radicals but also from those who had initially denounced them, Fachry added.
"And the government remained silent and made no counter arguments against such arousals of sympathy for the bombers. The most dangerous impact is it allowed massive mobilization of people to their burial sites and once again invited huge TV coverage for them," he said.
Setara Institute director Hendardi blasted the executions as mere politicking, saying it was a stunt to show off President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's tough stance against terrorism.
"But the aftermath of the executions proves otherwise -- rather than acting as a deterrent against terrorist attacks, it instead creates sympathy," he said.
Amrozi, 47, Mukhlas, 48, and Imam Samudra, 38, were executed by firing squad shortly after midnight early Sunday near their prison on Nusakambangan Island for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
The terrorists refused to be blindfolded before being shot, and cooperated fully with the firing squads, said Attorney General's Office spokesman Jasman Panjaitan.
"They were very cooperative and did not resistance at all. The families were also cooperative and sincere," he said.
A crowd burst into tears and shouts of "Allahu Akbar!" (God is great) at the sight of two black crows over Tenggulun village in Lamongan, East Java as a helicopter carrying the bodies of Amrozi and Mukhlas landed in a nearby field. Many there believed the birds were "sent from heaven to take the men's souls".
"God is great, God is great! God is showing his greatness. I'm so happy," a supporter, sobbing uncontrollably at the sight of the birds, was quoted as screaming by AFP.
Similar religious fervor and grief were on show in Imam Samudra's hometown of Serang, Banten.
Additional reporting by Agus Maryono in Cilacap and Indra Harsaputra in Tenggulun
A detailed account of how the bombers were executed
Wednesday, November 5: the three convicted bombers are informed they will be executed within three days.
Friday, November 7: The bombers are put in isolation cells.
Sunday, November 9, 12:15 am: After being tied to posts and offered blindfolds, which they refuse, the bombers are shot in their hearts by police firing squads.
1:00 am: The men's bodies are brought to a clinic for autopsies, after being declared dead at the execution site.
5:45 am: Prosecutors hand the bodies over to helicopter crews to deliver them to their home villages in East Java and Banten.
Source: Attorney General's Office
What's On
- 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
Abdul mukhlis (not verified) — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 7:20am
How great it is? After throwing certain sects out of the pale of Islam now MUI Leaders throwing certain persons out of paradise.
Anyway, I appreciate the decision of the government to execute the so-called Bali bombers. As long as the state law allows death penalty it's all right. But in Islam, any punishment must be taken for the benefit of all. So, if after the execution the number of those supporting the ideology of these alleged 'martyrs' keep increasing the government must review its stands on how to deal with terrorism.
Personally, I believe that the act of terror is not separate matter from the global policy. The way super powers deal with Palestinian issue and its insistency to use power to eliminate what they call as threat to world peace contribute so much to the growing of militancy among these people. If the super powers are willing to establish peace in the world, they must abandon double standards and deal with every case with absolute justice.
Secondly, I suggest to Religious figures in Indonesia to play more effective role. Not to just condemn them or to deny their alleged being 'martyrs' but to take a real measures of how to uplift their understanding of true Islam. As long as muslim community scattered in the hands of their 'domestic' leaders, the situation will be out of control. Instead of issuing edict on who is true and who is deviant, MUI leaders and those invest by the state to take care of them should come to see with their own eyes the problems faced by their 'ummah' and start eliminating illiteracy and poverty among them.
Enough is enough. Thank you.
Abdul Mukhlis
180511776267
Lindsay Flakelar (not verified) — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 6:38am
Typical Indonesia! Always looking to plant the blame somewhere. Why don't we all just drop it now and move on peacefully? The less said the better.
PT (not verified) — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 5:24am
The Goverment should not made confussion statements. The execution is similar to the same experiences in the past. Because of the Government's statements, mass media have a chance to make more complicated news. At the end, the victim is the readers.
Mohammed Yaya (not verified) — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 3:57am
Wake up stupid peoples - the two black crows were sent by the Devil to guide the murderers to Neraka. Allah's white doves of peace stayed away from those murderers.
JP (not verified) — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 8:23pm
Heh...
They really believed that those black crows were sent by heavens?
Are they sure it's not the opposite: those crows were agents sent by demons to witness the burial of new citizen of Hell?
Elcid (not verified) — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 5:32pm
They had it comming. The govt itself, makes those terorists heroes.
If only the govt didn't give the bombers special treatment, such as flew the bodies with choppers, etc.
Or is it come from guilt?
Rod from sydney (not verified) — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 2:57pm
Well said mate.
I hope they rot in hell for what they have done. I am not a fan of the death penalty, but in the case of mass murder it should be the death penalty. These three were the worst your society has to offer and the way they conducted themselves in court was a disgrace. Your media has alot to answer for giving them a voice.
Hopefully there families never get bombed like they were so willing to kill many hundreds of people, all of whom they have never met. ''God is great'' is what these people said going to there graves, if god does exist, I wonder what he said to these three when they showed up there ?
Rod.
James Dunn AM (not verified) — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 1:41pm
As one opposed to capital punishment I have a deep sense of sorrow about these executions which may create problems rather than solve them. Theirs was a terrible crime, but the guilt is surely shared by those who indoctricated them and encouraged them. Had they served long terms of imprisonment the reality of their crimes might just have changed them. In any case death sentences are a kind of continuation of the violence we all hope someday to end. James Dunn
Greg d (not verified) — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 1:17pm
Men will wrangle for religion,write for it,fight for it,die for it, ...Anything but live for it...
Phil Hanson (not verified) — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 12:17pm
If the government had a strong stance against terrorism, they wouldnt allow people like Abu Bakar Bashir to preach that these guys are heros. Instead the government sits silently by whilst these people continue to incite hatred and murder against "infidels" with impoverished and poorly educated Indonesians. The world will only know the government is serious about making Indonesia a safe and pluralistic society when they speak out and take action against these hatemongers.