Witnesses recall horror of Bali bombings
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
Nine survivors who took the witness stand on Monday had one thing in common. They have still not overcome the trauma that has haunted them for the eight months since bombs destroyed two popular nightclubs in Bali, killing at least 202 people.
On Monday, the nine recounted their horrific experience before the Denpasar District Court during the first trial, of Amrozi, one of the bombing suspects.
"Don't be nervous; take your time to consider your answers carefully and clearly," said judge I Gusti Ngurah Astawa, as he tried to calm down the fifth witness, Johan Peter Frans Duka.
"You just said that the bombings took place on October 12 2003. Is that a correct answer?" asked the judge.
Johan had been arguing with the judges that the bombings took place in October this year. They had to convince him that the blasts occurred last year, not in the future.
The 25-year-old Johan was injured by the bombing. He also lost his brother, who was a bouncer at Sari Club, where the larger of the two bombs exploded seconds after the first had devastated Paddy's, nearby.
Worse still, Johan's description of how the explosion had injured his genitals drew laughter from spectators.
A security guard at a clothes shop, Johan lost his temper at the spectators' reaction and vented his anger at Amrozi's defense team. "Did you listen to the answer I have just given to the presiding judges or not?" he asked one of Amrozi's lawyers, who was questioning him.
But Johan later surprised the court when he asked the judges for permission to shake the hand of Amrozi. His request was denied.
The eight other witnesses showed similar traits of distress. They all said they were still traumatized by the bombing.
First witness Kanisius Djoharni, 26, said the psychological fallout from the bombing had forced him to seek psychiatric help five times.
Another witness, Gatot Indro Suranto, said he passed out several times after witnessing the explosion. The 35-year-old man was only three cars away from the ill-fated Mitsubishi van packed with explosives, of which nothing remained afterward but metal fragments.
Other witnesses who came forward on Monday were Maximus Wangge, Putu Ayu Sila Prihanadewi, Dewa Ketut Rudita, Wayan Suartana and Wayan Suryani. They were among the more than 100 witnesses due to testify at this trial.
Amrozi said he understood the descriptions of the witnesses but he told judges he was unsure whether their testimonies were accurate. If found guilty, Amrozi could be sentenced to death.
"I am touched and moved by Gatot Indro Suranto's account," he said.
Amrozi is one of 29 suspects police have arrested in connection with the bombing. He was the first prime suspect in the case, but another detained suspect, Imam Samudra, claimed to be the mastermind behind the bombing. His trial is pending.
The suspects are believed to be members of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI). JI is allegedly behind a number of attacks and planned attacks in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.
Separately, Bali Police chief and former head of the bombing investigation team Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika said Imam Samudra, and three other suspects, Ali Imron, Ali Ghufron and Hutomo Pamungkas, alias Mubarok, would be flown to Jakarta on Tuesday.
They will testify at the trial of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the alleged JI spiritual leader, and will be returned to Bali the following day.