The sentence for Abu Bakar Ba'asyir

The sentence for Abu Bakar Ba'asyir

Unwelcome is the news that Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the subject of an important trial in Indonesia last year to determine his alleged connections with organized terror, has had his jail sentence reduced on appeal. This was his second appeal, but for release. On each occasion, he has had his sentence cut; first, from four years to three and now, from three to 1 1/2.

Not only that, but Ba'asyir has in the process purified himself of the odium of alleged treason and terrorist links. It should be recalled that he had in the first instance faced serious charges of treason and involvement in terrorism through his being spiritual head of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) militant network.

By the time of the Supreme Court procedure, Bashir must have looked like a persecuted man, as he had been hooked on crimes no more sinister than document falsification and immigration violations. Just what impact Ba'asyir's release will have on JI's demoralized ranks is hard to foretell, but terrorism experts are unanimous in saying it would rally them. This is an intriguing proposition: If the quiescent JI were suddenly energized with Ba'asyir out, would it not prove a certain nexus about his suspected role in underground activity? -- The Straits Times, Singapore