Cleric jailed over Bali bombings
AFP, Jakarta
Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, accused of leading an Al-Qaeda-linked group blamed for attacks across Asia, was jailed for two-and-a-half-years Thursday for involvement in the Bali bombings. Bashir was cleared of more serious terrorism charges but found guilty of taking part in a "sinister conspiracy" that led to the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian resort island which left over 200 people dead, mostly tourists. The judges said Bashir had not been directly involved in planning the Bali attack or the bombing of Jakarta's Marriott Hotel in 2003, but that he had given his approval for Bali. "The panel of judges decided that the defendant, Abu Bakar Bashir, has been legally and convincingly proven of engaging in a sinister conspiracy," chief judge Sudarto said. "It is true the defendant did not directly take part in the Bali blast but the defendant's words could be understood as his approval," the judge said. The five-member panel of judges said the 66-year-old cleric's words to key Bali bomber Amrozi during a meeting in 2002 showed he was aware of the conspiracy and did nothing to stop it. Prosecutors had demanded an eight-year sentence for Bashir, who was tried and cleared of terrorism charges at an earlier trial in 2003. The verdict was greeted by yells of "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) by his followers both inside and outside the court. The judges were immediately whisked out of the room by armed police. Bashir -- looking frail dressed in his traditional white robe and shawl, a white skullcap and glasses -- has always insisted the key conversation with bomber Amrozi never took place and he vowed to appeal. "I feel I have been treated arbitrarily with this verdict. It is unlawful for me to accept it and therefore I will appeal," Bashir said. Indonesia has come under pressure from the United States and Australia to act against Bashir, and both countries Thursday described the sentence as "disappointing". "It's satisfying that he has been convicted (but) it's disappointing that the sentence is just for two-and-a-half years," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters. "We respect the independence of Indonesia's judiciary and welcome the conviction of this known terrorist leader," US embassy spokesman Max Kwak told AFP. "However, given the gravity of the charges on which he was convicted, we are disappointed at the length of the sentence." Analysts here blamed the light sentence on the prosecutors' failure to prepare a solid case backed by strong evidence.
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