ASIA: Arrival of choppers increases talk of imminent executions
03 Nov 2008 1:17 AM
ASIA: Arrival of choppers increases talk of imminent executions
By Karen Michelmore and Marian Carroll
CILACAP, Central Java, Nov 2 AAP - Two helicopters which will transport thebodies of the three Bali bombers have arrived on their prison island in Central Java, raising fresh speculation the executions may be carried out tonight.
Imam Samudra, Amrozi and his brother Mukhlas will go before the firing squad imminently over their lead roles in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians.
Indonesian police have confirmed the two helicopters - which will transportthe bodies and families back to the bombers' home villages in east and west Java - landed in Nusakambangan island, near Cilacap.
"At the moment the two helicopters are near the Permisan prison," Cilacap Sergeant Major Giarto told the online newspaper Tempo Intercatif.
A third helicopter was on standby for security and logistic operations, he added.
The bombers' families and lawyers are due to arrive in Cilacap tomorrow morning, but may be too late for a final visit.
Mukhlas' brother-in-law Nasir Abas told the Indonesian newspaper Radar Banyumas he felt sad about the impending executions, but it was what Mukhlas wanted.
"I am opposed to the death executions but I respect the judge's decision," he said.
"For me this decision is in accordance with what he wishes, which is to dieas a martyr.
"He has asked for it to be done immediately.
"The delays of the executions is not Mukhlas' wish, but it is the wish of his lawyer, who according to me, is running a secular legal process which ishated by Mukhlas himself."
Bali is on high alert for possible revenge attacks, with police enlisting help from villagers to monitor everyone entering the island from neighbouring Java.
The bombers have been in isolation at Batu Prison on Nusakambangan Island, off the southern coast of Central Java, since Friday.
Ali Fauzi, the younger brother of Amrozi and Mukhlas, left today for the high-security prison from the family's village in eastern Java, expecting to arrive around dawn for a routine visit.
He also said another brother would fly to Bali today to lodge a last-ditch appeal at the Denpasar court that sentenced the bombers to death.
It was not clear on what grounds they would seek to prevent their executions.
Indonesian authorities say they have exhausted all legal options.
As Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith again urged Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Indonesia, one hotel has reported cancellations from guests worried about a reprisal attack from the bombers' supporters.
However, several other hotels blamed the global financial crisis for a recent dip in bookings.
Asked about the three men's threats that their executions would be avenged,Mr Smith told the Nine Network: "We're taking all the precautions we can, but we do urge Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Bali and Indonesia at this time."
He said if people did go, they should avoid areas that have been targeted by terrorists in the past.
Bali police spokesperson Sri Harmiti said the national police headquarters in Jakarta had instructed the island's force to be on high alert.
Bali has increased patrols around vital facilities including fuel and electricity plants and is searching every vehicle and person who enters the island from Java.
"The security at all entrance gates to Bali, whether by air or by sea, has been increased," she said.
Yon Suharyono, warden of Bali's Kerobokan prison where the three bombers were held before being moved to Nusa Kambangan, said he had ordered guards toincrease their level of supervision and frequency of patrols.
"We are on higher alert because in Kerobokan prison there are still convicted members of Amrozi's network from the first Bali bombing," he said.
Fears of reprisal attacks have prompted a number of cancellations from Australians in recent days, said David Kearns, general manager of The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa in Seminyak.
Michael Burchett, chairman of the Bali Hotels Association and general manager of Conrad Resort, said he has not noticed any major cancellations as a result of the imminent executions, with hoteliers more affected by the global financial meltdown.
Experts have said a terrorist attack to avenge the bombers' executions was unlikely, but warned lower-level unrest could break out when their bodies are returned to their villages.
AAP kmimcmn=0A
ASIA: Arrival of choppers increases talk of imminent executions
By Karen Michelmore and Marian Carroll
CILACAP, Central Java, Nov 2 AAP - Two helicopters which will transport thebodies of the three Bali bombers have arrived on their prison island in Central Java, raising fresh speculation the executions may be carried out tonight.
Imam Samudra, Amrozi and his brother Mukhlas will go before the firing squad imminently over their lead roles in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians.
Indonesian police have confirmed the two helicopters - which will transportthe bodies and families back to the bombers' home villages in east and west Java - landed in Nusakambangan island, near Cilacap.
"At the moment the two helicopters are near the Permisan prison," Cilacap Sergeant Major Giarto told the online newspaper Tempo Intercatif.
A third helicopter was on standby for security and logistic operations, he added.
The bombers' families and lawyers are due to arrive in Cilacap tomorrow morning, but may be too late for a final visit.
Mukhlas' brother-in-law Nasir Abas told the Indonesian newspaper Radar Banyumas he felt sad about the impending executions, but it was what Mukhlas wanted.
"I am opposed to the death executions but I respect the judge's decision," he said.
"For me this decision is in accordance with what he wishes, which is to dieas a martyr.
"He has asked for it to be done immediately.
"The delays of the executions is not Mukhlas' wish, but it is the wish of his lawyer, who according to me, is running a secular legal process which ishated by Mukhlas himself."
Bali is on high alert for possible revenge attacks, with police enlisting help from villagers to monitor everyone entering the island from neighbouring Java.
The bombers have been in isolation at Batu Prison on Nusakambangan Island, off the southern coast of Central Java, since Friday.
Ali Fauzi, the younger brother of Amrozi and Mukhlas, left today for the high-security prison from the family's village in eastern Java, expecting to arrive around dawn for a routine visit.
He also said another brother would fly to Bali today to lodge a last-ditch appeal at the Denpasar court that sentenced the bombers to death.
It was not clear on what grounds they would seek to prevent their executions.
Indonesian authorities say they have exhausted all legal options.
As Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith again urged Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Indonesia, one hotel has reported cancellations from guests worried about a reprisal attack from the bombers' supporters.
However, several other hotels blamed the global financial crisis for a recent dip in bookings.
Asked about the three men's threats that their executions would be avenged,Mr Smith told the Nine Network: "We're taking all the precautions we can, but we do urge Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Bali and Indonesia at this time."
He said if people did go, they should avoid areas that have been targeted by terrorists in the past.
Bali police spokesperson Sri Harmiti said the national police headquarters in Jakarta had instructed the island's force to be on high alert.
Bali has increased patrols around vital facilities including fuel and electricity plants and is searching every vehicle and person who enters the island from Java.
"The security at all entrance gates to Bali, whether by air or by sea, has been increased," she said.
Yon Suharyono, warden of Bali's Kerobokan prison where the three bombers were held before being moved to Nusa Kambangan, said he had ordered guards toincrease their level of supervision and frequency of patrols.
"We are on higher alert because in Kerobokan prison there are still convicted members of Amrozi's network from the first Bali bombing," he said.
Fears of reprisal attacks have prompted a number of cancellations from Australians in recent days, said David Kearns, general manager of The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa in Seminyak.
Michael Burchett, chairman of the Bali Hotels Association and general manager of Conrad Resort, said he has not noticed any major cancellations as a result of the imminent executions, with hoteliers more affected by the global financial meltdown.
Experts have said a terrorist attack to avenge the bombers' executions was unlikely, but warned lower-level unrest could break out when their bodies are returned to their villages.
AAP kmimcmn=0A