World News

The father of an Australian killed in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings asked Indonesia not to execute three militants convicted in the blasts, saying Friday "no good, only harm" would come from their deaths.

"Nothing will return my son to me, to his mother, his family and his friends," Brian Deegan said in an open letter to Indonesian authorities. "But the execution of a selected few who were responsible for his death and the death and maiming of hundreds more will not cure the pain."

Deegans's son Joshua was one of the 202 people killed in the Oct. 12 blasts on the resort island. Most of the victims were foreign tourists. Authorities have convicted more than 30 Islamic militants in the blasts, three of whom are on death row.

On Thursday, an Indonesian court said it had rejected a final appeal by the trio, bringing their executions closer. The three can still appeal for clemency to the president, but have said they will not do so.

Deegan, a barrister and a magistrate in his native Australia, said he and Joshua were opposed to the death penalty in all cases. His letter was released with his permission by the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, a regional group that campaigns against state executions.

He said killing the three men - who have shown no remorse and maintain their acts were sanctioned under Islam as revenge for Muslim deaths in Afghanistan and elsewhere - risked turning them into martyrs.

He urged the death penalty to be commuted to life imprisonment.

"I see that no good will come from their execution. I see only harm," he wrote. "I will not beg for their lives to be spared. But I seek that which I consider more appropriate. A penalty which will serve as a constant reminder to others. A penalty which will not destroy the lives of their families."

The Bali attacks were carried out by members and associates of Jemaah Islamiyah, a local network of mostly Afghan trained militants, with al-Qaida providing money and some expertise, police and former militants have said.

Islamic militants have carried out three other major attacks on Western targets in Indonesia since then, the last in 2005, also on Bali, when three suicide bombers killed 11 people in restaurant attacks.

The execution of the men could trigger a backlash in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, but most analysts expect any reaction to be small and likely be limited to a show of solidarity at their funeral.

Indonesia Muslims are overwhelmingly moderate. While most people disapprove of the U.S.-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and Washington's support for Israel, very few support al-Qaida style attacks on civilian targets, at home or abroad.

Jakarta: Artalyta Suryani, a suspect in bribing prosecutor Urip for US$660,000, arranged a scenario with Urip about the trial. It was uncovered from the phone tapping at the Corruption Court in Jakarta, yesterday.

The connection with the phone occurred on June 10 at 9pm while both of them were arrested. “Tomorrow we will be consistent with the amount of money that you use, right?” said Artalyta on the phone tap.

Urip was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in March 2008 at the house of Sjamsul Nursalim at Jalan Terusan Hang Lekir II, WG 9, Simprug, South Jakarta. He was caught when receiving Rp6 billion from Artalyta. A few hours later, Artalyta was also arrested.

They talked over the phone although Artalyta was detained at the Criminal and Investigation Agency at Indonesian police headquarters in Jakarta while Urip was held at Brigade Mobile headquarters in Depok.

During the trial yesterday, Artalyta insisted that she never called anyone from the prison. “It is a traumatic experience for me to talk on the phone,” she said.
She then changed her mind when the prosecutor mentioned about the phone tap. “No need to be played. I admit the call,” said Artalyta.

But the judge decided to play the phone tap when Artalyta called Urip by using a Singapore number.

However, Artalyta still claimed that the money is for Urip opening a workshop. She mentioned the land in Cikampek given by Urip as collateral on the loan.

Judge Andi Bachtiar questioned this statement. “There is no mention about a loan on 44 phone taps.” Artalyta could not explain this.

From the prison, Artalyta also contacted a man on June 5. She has had a long relationship with Sjamsul Nursalim, and created a situation for this man to be a witness for Urip.