In Reply to: pissant excuse of a jail sentence posted by BBB on Thursday, 3. March 2005 at 21:31 Bali Time:
The problem with trying to nail Bashir is that there is virtually no evidence linking him to the bombings. All the prosecuters really had were the words of a convicted bomber. And yet you guys seem to have the inside scoop and all the incontravertible evidence you need to give him a death sentence.
Sydney Jones probably did the best research into JI and Bashir, and she should never have been booted out of the country. But even she couldn't conclude that Bashir even condoned terrorism, let alone taking an active role in it.
Bashir's writings and speeches always indicate that his plan is for a spiritual revolution in Indonesia, not a physical one. He wants Indonesians to convert to Islam, and then live according to strict Muslim principles. He is in favour of Sharia law. While he hasn't always publicly condemned acts of violence, he has for decades stated that such acts are pointless and against the principles of Islam.
When you get down to tin tacks, Bashir is serving 2 1/2 years because, in the court's opinion, he could have "ordered" the Bali and Marriott Hotel Bombers not to act, but didn't.
I can't see any warrants being served on the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury for failing to make direct orders to prevent violence enacted in the name of Christianity. Should George Bush's preacher be charged with war crimes?
And once again, it has to be pointed out that Indonesian authorities still don't have access to Hambali, who may have had some vital info that would have helped convict Bashir of something other than being a bit of a religious nutter.
They've been trying to nail Bashir for three years. They haven't been able to do it. They got him on immigration charges and this new thing (which sounds a bit dodgy to me). Has it occurred to anyone that maybe he hasn't really done anything illegal? And other than providing spiritual guidance to some of those involved in the Bali Bombing, maybe he has no connection.
At least there is some evidence implicating Schapelle Corby. Yet heaps of people believe the stuff was planted on her. If Bashir had been caught with a bunch of explosives in his car and said he didn't know whose it was, would everybody be so quick to believe him?
Before you guys hire a hit man, maybe you should hire a detective, to see if he actually committed a crime.