Witnesses recall horror of Bali bombings

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.