Indonesia’s top justice official says authorities are considering an objection to the early release of the bomb maker in the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people. Hisyam bin Alizein, 55, is best known under his alias Umar Patek as a prominent member of al- The Qaeda-linked radical Islamic group in Southeast Asia Jemaah Islamiyah. Indonesian authorities said Patek was an example of successful efforts to reform convicted terrorists and that they will use him to influence others not to carry out terrorist acts. trial in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, March 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File) (AP)
Indonesia’s Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said Patek has met all parole requirements recommended by Indonesia’s counter-terrorism agency known as BNPT. His ministry received an objection but did not specify who raised it.
“In terms of his participation in the deradicalization program, he has been loyal to the Republic of Indonesia for a long time, but we are still considering the contributions of many elements,” Laoly said.
“We still need one more letter, apart from BNPT.”
Patek received a total of 33 months of sentence reductions, which are often given to prisoners on major holidays, such as his five-month reduction granted in August for Indonesia’s Independence Day.
The Bali bombings killed 202 people in 2002. (AP)
Patek was found guilty by the West Jakarta District Court of helping build the massive car bomb used in the deadly 2002 attacks on Bali nightclubs that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, including 88 Australians, leaving a deep scar.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Patek as “abhorrent” and said his early release will cause further distress to Australians who were directly affected by the Bali attacks.
“His actions were the actions of a terrorist,” Albanese said today Friday.
“We lost 88 Australian lives in those attacks.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is outraged by the early release of the Bali bomb maker. (Today)
Albanese said he would continue to make “diplomatic representations” to Indonesia about Patek’s sentencing and a range of other issues, including Australians currently jailed in Indonesia.
Patek was sentenced to 20 years in prison a decade after the attack. He left Bali just before the attacks and spent nine years on the run and was considered one of Asia’s most wanted terror suspects.
Some felt the sentence was too light, but were encouraged by the remorse Patek expressed during the trial.
Patek admitted he helped make the bombs but said he did not know they would be used. He has apologized to the families of the victims, Christians and the government.
Umar Patek was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Indonesia for his role in the twin suicide bombings in Kuta. (new)
Patek told reporters earlier this month that he was committed to helping the government with deradicalization programs “so they can fully understand the dangers of terrorism and the dangers of radicalism.”
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation and third-largest democracy, has jailed hundreds of Islamic militants since the Bali attacks.
BNPT director of prevention Ahmad Nurwahid said their aim is not only to imprison them, but to change their platform to become law-abiding citizens.
He said many convicts, including Patek, have changed and are using their experience to prevent others from turning to violence.
“We hope that the early release of Umar Patek will provide more significant results and massive gains in the de-radicalisation programme,” Nurwahid said.
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An Indonesian court banned Jemaah Islamiyah in 2008. Since then, the US and Australia have provided support to maintain Indonesia’s crackdown on the group and weaken it.
In recent years, attacks on foreigners have declined, but less lethal attacks against the government, particularly counterterrorism forces, have persisted, inspired by the Islamic State group’s tactics abroad.