Bali bombers' appeals rejected
2008-07-17 14:05
Jakarta - Indonesia has rejected the final appeals of three Islamic militants convicted over the 2002 Bali bombings, bringing closer their executions for the attacks that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.
Denpasar District Court head Nyoman Gede Wirya said on Thursday the men would now be formally asked if they want to appeal to the president for clemency - their only remaining way to avoid the death sentence.
Ali Ghufron, Imam Samudra and Amrozi Nurhasyim have said they will not do this because such a request requires an admission of wrongdoing.
In interviews and prison writings, the trio have showed no remorse, saying the attacks were in revenge for Muslim deaths in Afghanistan and elsewhere and were sanctioned under their interpretation of Islam.
The three were convicted in 2003 of planning and helping carrying out the October 12 blasts at two packed nightclubs on the resort island. About 30 militants were convicted in total, though at least four suspects remain at large.
Wirya said he had received a letter from the Supreme Court saying it has dismissed the three men's appeal for a last review of their cases. The court had already rejected two other petitions for such a review.
"The Supreme Court explained that an appeal for a judicial review is only allowed once, which means their request could not be processed," he said.
The men's lawyer, Mohammad Mahendradata, said he had yet to be informed of the court's decision, but would attempt to challenge it further. He gave no more details.
Indonesia never reveals when executions are going to take place in advance, and there were no indications on Thursday that their deaths were imminent. Other prisoners have been on death row for more than 15 years, though the appeal's process in the men's cases appears to be moving more quickly than normal.
The Bali attacks were carried out by members and associates of Jemaah Islamiyah, a local network of mostly Afghan trained militants, with al-Qaeda providing money and some expertise, police and former militants have said.
Islamic militants have carried out three other major attacks on Western targets in Indonesia since then, the last in 2005, also on Bali, when three suicide bombers killed 11 people in restaurant attacks.
The execution of the men could trigger a backlash in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, but most analysts expect any reaction to be small and be limited to a show of solidarity at their funeral.
Only a few websites and magazines have run articles praising the bombers, and mainstream Muslims politicians and clerics are unlikely to publicly criticise the secular government for carrying out the executions.
- AP