Ex-militant says Bali blasts aimed to discredit Islam

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.