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.