Ex-militant says Bali blasts aimed to discredit Islam
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A former accomplice of Imam Samudra, who received the death sentence for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings, has confessed to taking part in acts of violence nationwide, but denied a role in the Oct. 1 blasts on the island.
Hadidi aka Abu Zahro, 40, told the Cilegon Police he was a victim of a grand scenario to label Muslim hard-liners as perpetrators of bomb attacks in the country.
Cilegon Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Riansyah led the questioning of Hadidi on Saturday. The native of Banten was also shown pictures of three suspected suicide bombers of last weekend's attacks on two cafes and a restaurant on the tourist island, which left 23 people dead, including one victim who died in hospital on Saturday.
Police have now questioned 170 people who may lead the investigators to the masterminds of the terror attack and the motives behind it.
"I don't know the men in the pictures (the suspected bombers) because I have never met them. But they could be new recruits," Hadidi told Antara at his residence on Sunday.
"Frankly, I was shocked upon answering the questions. I have quit now and tried to start a new life as a good citizen here."
Hadidi said he underwent one month paramilitary training along with Moro Islamic militant fighters on Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines in 2000.
Before the Philippines stint, Hadidi had joined the military- backed militia group Pam Swakarsa formed to help security officers guard the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly in 1999. Hadidi was appointed group coordinator for Banten area.
"My involvement in Pam Swakarsa followed my acquaintance with Jaja, a local businessman. Jaja was also known as the right hand of Imam Samudra," he said.
"I thought Pam Swakarsa was legal because I was entrusted to help the government restore order following the fall of the New Order regime in 1998."
Economic hardship was the motive behind his decision to accept the offer to join the militia group.
After the special session was over, Hadidi said Jaja ordered him to undertake "a mission" in Ambon, which at that time was rocked by bloody sectarian conflicts.
"But as I was ready to leave from Tanjung Priok seaport, I and eight other Pam Swakarsa members were smuggled to the Philippines to join the training with the Muslim rebels," he said.
Upon arrival from Mindanao, Hadidi was assigned to several places nationwide.
"All of the assignments were given upon Imam Samudra's directives. I followed the order because Jaja promised me a job in one of his companies," Hadidi said.
Imam, along with Amrozi and Mukhlas, were sentenced to death after the Denpasar District Court declared them guilty of plotting and executing the Bali bombing on Oct. 12, 2002. The terror attack killed 202 people, mostly foreigners.
During the interrogation, police also asked Hadidi about his recent activities and his current relationship with Jaja and other recruits. He said he had received threats from Jaja and his men.
"Economic hardship drove me to accept the offer. My leaders always taught me jihad against any kind of repression. Indeed, I was too afraid to resist my leaders and I believe I may be not the only person trapped in this political scenario," he said.