Controversy surrounds possible repatriation of Indonesian Jemaah Islamiah leader
Hambali, who masterminded the attacks in Bali and against Christians, is currently held in Guantanamo. A s part of a policy of repatriating Indonesians incarcerated abroad, Indonesian authorities envisage bringing him home after his group said it was disbanding. Activists argue that helping jailed migrant workers come home and leniency towards a convicted terrorist are not the same.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Many Indonesians are bewildered and concerned over recent reports that their government plans to repatriate the most famous and brutal leader of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a banned terrorist group, responsible for some of the darkest pages in the country's recent history.
Government leaders, starting with President Prabowo Subianto, have reportedly given the green light to the return of Riduan Isamuddin, better known by his nom de guerre, Hambali, mastermind of the 2002 Bali attack that struck mostly Christians.
This controversial decision by the president follows reports that he might pardon people convicted of corruption if they return their ill-gotten money; so far, no details have been forthcoming as to when and how this might happen.
Originally from Cianjur regency, West Java province, the extremist leader is currently held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, a US military prison at the US Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (Cuba).
Known by the moniker “Osama bin Laden of Southeast Asia”, Hambali wanted to create an Islamic theocratic state encompassing much of Southeast Asia, which he would lead as caliph, ruling over Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and parts of the Philippines, Myanmar, and Thailand.
He received increasing attention in the aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings, in which 202 people died, mostly foreign tourists, and was arrested a year later in a joint operation by the CIA and Thai police.
When Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced the repatriation plan, he caused bewilderment and concern among many Indonesians.
For the minister, “Hambali is an Indonesian citizen. No matter how wrong our citizens are abroad, we must still pay attention.”
With reference to this legal case, Yusril noted that the statute of limitations in Indonesia's cases against Hambali had expired.
The “2002’s Bali bombing attacks happened 23 years ago and based on our legal proceedings, his case has already expired,” he added. "According to Indonesian law, if the crime carries the death penalty or life imprisonment, there is an expiration date. If it is more than 18 years, the case can no longer be prosecuted," the minister explained.
Yusril will soon present the case to President Prabowo Subianto, who has already shown great interest in the fate of Indonesian citizens detained abroad whom he wants to repatriate, mostly migrant workers held in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia without legal travel documents.
“We have fresh reports that the number of our fellow Indonesians in Malaysia is 54 – all death sentenced convicts but still not yet to be executed.” There are “No exact number of Indonesian detainees in Saudi Arabia,” he explained.
The Hambali case has already triggered criticism and strong opposition, especially among those who see a great difference between a terrorist convicted of a massacre and migrant workers arrested because they did not have the necessary permits.
“Hambali’s case is totally different with our fellow Indonesian migrant workers who commit serious offences – murdering their foreign host under extraordinary situations (not being paid for months, experiencing violent and sexual abuses, etc.),” some Indonesians told AsiaNews.
For Suryo, “He is a terrorist and is not morally eligible to return home to his native country,” while Mila notes that, “Terrorism has no legal and moral stance for a legal pardon.”
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10/03/2009
16/06/2006
