One of the leaders who planned and organized the funds for the 2002 Bali bombing that claimed 202 lives, including 88 Australian and seven Americans, has been charged with murder after being held in Guantanamo for over a decade.
Riduan Isamuddin, also known as Hambali, “was an operational mastermind in the Southeast Asia-based Islamic extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and served as the main interface between JI and al-Qa’ida from 2000 until his capture in mid-2003,” reads an unclassified U.S. Department of Defense “Guantanamo Detainee Profile” from March 2016.
Family members of those that died in the attack, which was planned for peak holiday season in the popular tourist destination, grimly welcomed the decision.
“I wish I could do what some people have done and forgive them. I can’t forgive anybody, I can’t forgive anybody that’s connected to that, at all,” said Dave Byron, who lost daughter Chloe in Bali Bombings.
“I hope I pick up the paper and see he’s got life. I hope to pick up the paper and see he’s being executed.”
Chloe was a much beloved and known surfer in her Australian hometown of Bondi, where a mural depicts her with her signature frangipani flower in her hair. She was 15 when she died.
Kevin Paltridge is the father of Corey Paltridge, who was among the many athletes who regularly head to Bali after the sports season ended. Corey died on the dance floor of the Sari Club at 20.
“I’d like to pull the trigger, that would make me really happy,” said Paltridge.
Survivor Andrew Csabi, lost his leg and a foot in the blast. His reaction echoed that of the 52.5 percent Australians who don’t have the death penalty in their home country, but when polled, supported the death penalty for the Bali bombers.
“He deserves to be brought to justice. And if justice is going to be the death penalty, so be it,” said Csabi.
Court documents obtained by the Associated Press on Friday also showed Isamuddin was charged in connection with an attack on the J.W. Marriott in Jakarta in 2003.
The terrorist believed the hotel would have a large American presence a bomb there would have “the biggest overall impact,” the charging documents said.
That Aug. 5, 2003, car bomb killed 12 people and wounded 150.
Three bombs were detonated in Bali on Oct. 12, 2002. A backpack device carried inside Paddy’s Pub by a suicide bomber was detonated and drove many people into the street, just before a much larger car bomb was detonated, causing the majority of the fatalities, destroying surrounding buildings, including the Sari Club, and leaving a one-metre deep crater.
A much smaller device was detonated outside the United States consulate in Denpasar, Bali’s capital.
Julie Bishop, Australia’s Foreign Minister, called for the “severest of punishment” for those found to be involved in the attack.
The U.S. government review board rejected the release of Hambali last fall, saying he continues to be a “significant threat to the security of the United States.”
The 2016 DoD prisoner profile said Isamuddin was preaching violent jihad to his fellow inmates.
“We judge that ID-10019 [Isamuddin] remains steadfast in his support for extremist causes and his hatred for the US,” reads the prisoner profile.
A military court will decide whether a trial on the murder charges will be held.
Matthew Little for Epoch Times
Matthew Little for NTD
