seruriermarshal
04-30-2004, 04:53 AM
RENEGADE Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has been arrested and will be charged with masterminding the Bali bombings that killed 202 people including 88 Australians, according to reports.
Associated Press reported this morning that Bashir, who until now has claimed ignorance of operations by terror network Jemaah Islamiah, would be charged with the Bali atrocity and other bombings by the group.
Top anti-terror official at the security ministry Ansyaad Mbai said: "Abu Bakar Bashir will be charged with all bombings committed by Jemaah Islamiyah because he is the leader of the group," the AP reported.
"Many witnesses have said the bombings were approved by him. We have a strong case and we have strong evidence."
Bashir was re-arrested this morning immediately after finishing his prison sentence for forgery and immigration charges.
About 6.30am (9.30am AEST) police grabbed him from his cell and brought him to police headquarters.
Dozens of his supporters yelled and tossed bottles as he was led away. Police responded by spraying them with water cannons and tear gas.
There were angry clashes ahead of Bashir's release, with hundreds of supporters vowing to stop Bashir being re-arrested clashing with riot police outside the prison where the cleric was held.
About 600 helmet-clad paramilitary police led by Central Jakarta police chief Suwakardi Dahlan took up positions around dawn outside the prison and tried to negotiate with the angry crowd numbering at least 700.
Irfan Awwas, deputy chief of the Indonesian Mujahedeen Council which Bashir heads, told Mr Dahlan he had received guarantees from Justice Minister Yusril Izha Mahendra that Bashir would be freed later that morning.
A water cannon then began spraying the crowd, who responded with big rocks. Police carrying plastic shields picked up some rocks and tossed them back.
"We are ready to die as martyrs!" screamed some protesters and "Salemba will become the second Ambon" - a reference to bloody Muslim-Christian clashes in the eastern city this week.
Many wore Muslim caps and long-sleeve shirts, with faces covered by keffiyeh scarves.
At least five supporters were injured and reporters saw one being beaten up by police. Three journalists were also hurt.
Bashir has repeatedly denied any links to terrorism and maintains that he is being punished for his anti-American stance.
"Of course I will resist my arrest within my capability," Bashir said from his jail cell yesterday. "I will do it not by violence, but by words."
Bashir's fate is a sensitive political issue in Indonesia, where authorities have sought to balance the need to remain aggressive in the US-led war on terror while not appearing to cave in to pressure from the United States and Australia.
Officials have taken their case to the media, arguing in interviews Thursday that they have testimony from scores of witnesses from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore who can prove Bashir is the Jemaah Islamiyah leader.
Mbai also said authorities have recently uncovered reams of new documents implicating Bashir, including a letter signed by Islamic extremists in the Philippines that allegedly identifies him as the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah.
Bashir's lawyers have argued that authorities are repackaging old evidence and counting on the country's tough new anti-terror law to obtain a conviction.
Unlike the criminal code under which he was prosecuted earlier, the new law sets a lower burden of proof in cases involving terrorism. It also allows police to detain suspects without charge for up to six months.
"Our client has already been proven innocent by the courts. Police can't ask anything new because they have no fresh evidence," said Bashir's lawyer Munawarman.
Associated Press reported this morning that Bashir, who until now has claimed ignorance of operations by terror network Jemaah Islamiah, would be charged with the Bali atrocity and other bombings by the group.
Top anti-terror official at the security ministry Ansyaad Mbai said: "Abu Bakar Bashir will be charged with all bombings committed by Jemaah Islamiyah because he is the leader of the group," the AP reported.
"Many witnesses have said the bombings were approved by him. We have a strong case and we have strong evidence."
Bashir was re-arrested this morning immediately after finishing his prison sentence for forgery and immigration charges.
About 6.30am (9.30am AEST) police grabbed him from his cell and brought him to police headquarters.
Dozens of his supporters yelled and tossed bottles as he was led away. Police responded by spraying them with water cannons and tear gas.
There were angry clashes ahead of Bashir's release, with hundreds of supporters vowing to stop Bashir being re-arrested clashing with riot police outside the prison where the cleric was held.
About 600 helmet-clad paramilitary police led by Central Jakarta police chief Suwakardi Dahlan took up positions around dawn outside the prison and tried to negotiate with the angry crowd numbering at least 700.
Irfan Awwas, deputy chief of the Indonesian Mujahedeen Council which Bashir heads, told Mr Dahlan he had received guarantees from Justice Minister Yusril Izha Mahendra that Bashir would be freed later that morning.
A water cannon then began spraying the crowd, who responded with big rocks. Police carrying plastic shields picked up some rocks and tossed them back.
"We are ready to die as martyrs!" screamed some protesters and "Salemba will become the second Ambon" - a reference to bloody Muslim-Christian clashes in the eastern city this week.
Many wore Muslim caps and long-sleeve shirts, with faces covered by keffiyeh scarves.
At least five supporters were injured and reporters saw one being beaten up by police. Three journalists were also hurt.
Bashir has repeatedly denied any links to terrorism and maintains that he is being punished for his anti-American stance.
"Of course I will resist my arrest within my capability," Bashir said from his jail cell yesterday. "I will do it not by violence, but by words."
Bashir's fate is a sensitive political issue in Indonesia, where authorities have sought to balance the need to remain aggressive in the US-led war on terror while not appearing to cave in to pressure from the United States and Australia.
Officials have taken their case to the media, arguing in interviews Thursday that they have testimony from scores of witnesses from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore who can prove Bashir is the Jemaah Islamiyah leader.
Mbai also said authorities have recently uncovered reams of new documents implicating Bashir, including a letter signed by Islamic extremists in the Philippines that allegedly identifies him as the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah.
Bashir's lawyers have argued that authorities are repackaging old evidence and counting on the country's tough new anti-terror law to obtain a conviction.
Unlike the criminal code under which he was prosecuted earlier, the new law sets a lower burden of proof in cases involving terrorism. It also allows police to detain suspects without charge for up to six months.
"Our client has already been proven innocent by the courts. Police can't ask anything new because they have no fresh evidence," said Bashir's lawyer Munawarman.