Indonesia and their Drug Laws

[Black Orchid]

Thirty-six of the Indonesian terrorists involved in the deadly Bali Bombings in 2002 have been released from jail, and another 100 are expected to be freed in the coming year.

The Herald Sun reports only five men from the two Bali attacks remain ­in jail on life sentences, without the right to ­remission or clemency.

The Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict reports that around 100 extremists, especially those involved in the 2002 Kuta bombings and the subsequent 2005 bombings in Jimbaran and Kuta, which killed 20 people, including four Australians and injured 129, including 19 Australians, have been released.

While the Indonesian government has focussed on a de-radicalisation program, there are questions about its effectiveness, with terror cells being controlled from jail, as well as some of those released being involved in further terrorist acts.

As Australian Policy Online points out: “overcrowding, understaffing and the poor physical condition of many Indonesian prisons combine to produce escapes of ordinary criminals so frequently that it is a wonder that not more extremists make the attempt”.

By 2010, just 13 of the 70 JI terrorists convicted for their involvement in the Bali bombings and 2004 attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta were still in prison.

By May 2014, just five men from the two Bali attacks remained ­in jail.

Abu Bakar Bashir, regarded as spiritual head Jemaah Islamiah, was found guilty of conspiracy over the 2002 bombings and sentenced to 30 months, but was acquitted on appeal and released in 2006.

Idris, also known as Johnny Hendrawan, admitted his involvement, including detonating a bomb. He walked free after a ruling that Indonesia’s anti-terror laws could not be applied retrospectively. He received a five year sentence for his involvement in the 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing, which killed 12, and was released 2009.

Masykur Abdul Kadir, sentenced to 15 years, also had his sentence overturned when the retrospective anti-terrorism laws were struck down.

Muhammad Cholili, 36, helped assemble more than 20 backpack and motorcycle bombs — some of which were used in the October, 2005 attacks in Bali that killed 20 people, including four Australians.

More than 120 others were injured in the evening blasts that struck the popular tourist areas of Kuta and Jimbaran Beach.

But the smiling terrorist, who happily declared to media after his conviction that “God’s destiny really is beautiful”, was released on Wednesday, supposedly to reward “good behaviour”.

Lucky for them they didn't have drugs eh?