A large number of the victims of the 2002 Bali attacks were Australians. Now Australia demands that Indonesia continue to monitor the bomber even outside the prison walls.
On Wednesday, Indonesia released the man convicted of the Bali terrorist attacks from prison By Umar Patek.
Patek was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the October 2002 Bali bombings. The attack targeted two nightclubs in the Kuta area popular with tourists. According to the court, Patek built the bombs used in the attacks.
202 people died in the Bali attacks. 88 of them were Australians. In addition, more than 200 people were wounded. The attack remains Indonesia’s worst terrorist attack.
Patek fled the authorities after nearly a decade of attacks. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2011.
Patek had time to serve about half of his sentence. On Wednesday, he was released on parole.
According to Indonesian authorities, 55-year-old Patek has improved his habits in prison. The authorities plan to use Patek to influence other Islamists to stop supporting terrorism.
Patek must participate in the “mentoring program” until April 2030. His parole may be revoked if he does not comply with the rules, Indonesia’s justice ministry said in a statement, according to news agency Reuters.
Australians were shocked
Australia strongly opposed the man’s release. The Australian government announced on Thursday that it will demand Indonesia continue to monitor Patek while he is at large.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said it was a terrible day for the victims of the attacks and their families.
– My personal view is that his actions were inexcusable and absolutely horrible, O’Neil said, according to the AP news agency.
The minister commented on the matter to the media at the National Press Club in Canberra. He reminded that Australia does not control Indonesia’s legal system.
Survived the Bali attacks and was a witness at Patek’s trial Peter Hughes told Australian broadcaster ABC that he and other survivors were skeptical of the claim that the bomber had changed.
– People like him have a history. They don’t stop. His release is ridiculous, Hughes told ABC.
Australian Jan Laczynski lost five friends in the Bali attacks. He told For the British Broadcasting Corporation BBC (you will switch to another service) being upset and angry.
– This man will get his life back. Many of us will never get our lives back, Laczynski told the BBC on Thursday
Umar Patek belonged to the extremist Islamic organization Jemaah Islamiah, which had links to the terrorist network al-Qaeda.
A court in Jakarta found that Patek participated in the construction of the car bomb that was detonated in front of the Sari Club. Another person detonated the bomb on the evening of October 12, 2002.
Moments earlier, the suicide bomber had set off a smaller explosive in his backpack at the nearby Paddy’s Pub nightclub.
Sources: AFP, AP, Reuters