Makassar bomb blast trials to start next Monday
Makassar bomb blast trials to start next Monday
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi
The trials of five of 24 suspects implicated in the Makassar bomb
attacks on Dec. 5, 2002, will begin in the Makassar District
Court on June 9.
Chief Justice Bagir Manan, during a visit to the court on
Monday, said the court, which has appointed five panels of judges
to hear the cases, was ready for the trials, the first of which
would involve Haerul, Muhammad Tang alias Itang, Anton, Ilham
Riyadi and Suriadi.
The five face execution if convicted of the charges, including
illegal possession of explosives and murder.
The blasts targeted a McDonald's outlet and a car dealership
owned by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla.
Three people were killed and 11 injured. Five suspects are
still at large, including the alleged mastermind Agung Adul
Hamid.
Besides him, those alleged to have played a decisive role in
the bombings are also Bizbullah Rasyid, Dahlan and Mirjal.
Police allege the attacks, which followed the devastating Oct.
12 Bali bomb attacks blamed on Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), also
involved the shadowy regional terrorist network. Suspects in both
cases claimed to be members of JI. Links have also been
established to the bombing campaigns on Christmas Eve 2000 and
2002.
Bagir said: "The court chief has reported that they will be
technically prepared for the trial. The panel of judges have been
set up. Five court rooms are also ready for the trial."
Bagir, speaking to reporters as he toured the court, court
cells and judges' quarters, said the judges had discussed the
cases with High Court judges, particularly regarding the possible
indictments from prosecutors.
A Supreme Court justice would aid the judges in conducting
their tasks.
Bagir called on the people of South Sulawesi to trust the
judges during the trials.
"I call on the public to let the trials run smoothly without
interruption. I'm sure the trial will be a success."
The court has requested support from the South Sulawesi
administration to provide facilities, including a sound system,
and also from the South Sulawesi police to provide security.
The upcoming trial would coincide with the trials in Bali of
two key suspects in last year's Bali bombing, and the trial of
JI's alleged spiritual leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir in Jakarta.
Aside from uncovering an alleged terrorist network in
Makassar, police here have also found at least five of their
suspected military style training camps.
The fifth camp in the Luwu regency was allegedly used by the
bombing suspects for shooting practice and assembling bombs.
Suspects told the police that they received training from
foreign instructors, possibly from Afghanistan.