Author: Cindy Wockner in Bali
Publication: Herald Sun
Date: May 26, 2003
URL: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6492231^662,00.html
Bali bombing co-ordinator Imam Samudra
has cited 13 reasons for the fatal blasts, singling Australia out for its
role in a "conspiracy" to separate East Timor from Indonesia.
Samudra's 13 justifications are
in a brief of evidence to be used at his coming terrorism trial, a copy
of which has been obtained by the Herald Sun.
The 33-year-old, whose real name
is Abdul Aziz, recounted the justifications during police confessions that
form part of the 2000-page dossier.
In it he claims Australia joined
in separating East Timor from Indonesia in an international conspiracy
by followers of the Christian cross.
The chilling statement reveals the
full extent of Samudra's resentment and anger towards Australia for its
role in supporting America and, closer to home, its role in East Timor's
long struggle for independence from Indonesia.
Samudra reveals that the Sari Club
and Paddy's Bar, in Kuta's tourist strip, were hit because they were frequented
by Westerners for purposes of drinking and socialising.
Samudra claimed the October 12 blast
was part of a campaign against America and its allies, including Australia,
as revenge for their treatment of Muslims, saying that the "blood of Muslims
is expensive and valuable".
The devout Muslim told police that
under the auspices of Allah, Muslims had an obligation to protect the weak
men and women who were targets of "US terrorists" and their allies.
In listing the allies, Samudra again
singled out Australia, along with England, Germany, France, Japan and Russia.
Samudra told police that he and
co-conspirators visited Bali one month before the bombings, to survey the
scenes at the Sari Club and Paddy's Bar. He considered them places for
large gatherings of "kafir" people, such as Americans and their allies.
Shortly before the bombing, Samudra
ordered his deputies to pray before they embarked on "their duty of war".
At the time of the blast, shortly
after 11pm on October 12, Samudra told police he was at a Denpasar supermarket,
where he heard the explosions. His deputies in the field, Ali Imron and
Idris, had also telephoned him to tell him the bombs had been a success.
Samudra's terrorism trial is due
to begin in Denpasar on June 2.
The world will get its first look
at Samudra in court on Wednesday when he is flown to Jakarta to testify
at the treason trial of radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, the emir
of terror group Jemaah Islamiah.
The trial is seen as a bid by Indonesian
authorities to formerly link Bashir to the Bali attack.
Today in Bali the trial of the "smiling"
bomber Amrozi will resume, with 10 local Balinese victims testifying about
the effect of the tragedy upon their lives.
