Upon recalling the execution of the Bail
Bombers 4 years ago, I remembered that one of the terrorists involved in the
2002 Bali Bombings, Umar Patek was sentenced to 20 years jail on Thursday 21
June 2012. I will post information about this terrorist from Wikipedia and The
Daily Mail before giving my thoughts on him.
Umar Patek (born 1970) is an Indonesian member of Jemaah Islamiyah who was wanted
in the United States, Australia, and Indonesia on terrorism charges. There was
a US$1 million reward offered by the Rewards For Justice Program for
information leading to his capture. In June 2012 Patek was convicted for his
involvement in the 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia, which killed 202 people.
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Bali bombing mastermind Umar Patek of
Indonesia attends a police reconstruction at the crime scene in Jakarta on
November 2, 2011. Patek, a suspected member of the Al-Qaida-linked Southeast
Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), has been cooperating with police
interrogators since his extradition from Pakistan, where he was arrested in
January in the town where Osama bin Laden was subsequently killed by US
commandos. While on the run Patek was one of Asia's most wanted terror suspects
and had a 1 million USD bounty on his head under the US rewards for justice
programme. AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY
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Capture and trial:
Patek was captured
by Pakistani security officials in Abbotabad on 25 January 2011. Indonesian
officials reported that Patek had confessed to playing a key role in the 2002
Bali bombings as well as a series of bombings on Christmas Eve in 2000. Ansyaad
Mbai, the head of Indonesia's anti-terrorism agency, also told the Associated
Press that Patek had "helped lead authorities to bin Laden." In May 2011,
Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that Patek was in
Abottabad with his wife with the purpose of meeting bin Laden, but an unnamed
U.S. counterterrorism official dismissed this claim as a
"coincidence" and told ABC News that the U.S. had no evidence that
Patek was attempting to meet with the al-Qaeda leader. Dawn.com earlier reported that Patek intended
to travel to North Waziristan with two French militants.
There had been
earlier false reports that he had been killed on September 14, 2006 in the Sulu
province of the Philippines.
On 11 August 2011,
Umar Patek was extradited to Indonesia where he was detained in Jakarta before
pending trial.
On 21 June 2012 an Indonesian court sentenced Patek to 20 years in jail
for murder and bomb-making. He was found guilty of all six charges, which
included involvement in attacks against churches on Christmas Eve 2000.
Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty. During the trial Patek apologized
to families of victims and maintained that he did nothing more than mix
chemicals for the explosives.
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Bali bombing mastermind Umar Patek (bottom R)
of Indonesia and his wife Siti Ruqayah (bottom L) of the Philippines, and and
suspect Hari Kuncoro (C) attend a police reconstruction at the crime scene in
Jakarta on November 2, 2011. Patek, a suspected member of the Al-Qaida-linked
Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), has been cooperating with
police interrogators since his extradition from Pakistan, where he was arrested
in January in the town where Osama bin Laden was subsequently killed by US
commandos. While on the run Patek was one of Asia's most wanted terror suspects
and had a 1 million USD bounty on his head under the US rewards for justice
programme. AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY
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Bali bombing mastermind Umar Patek (centre R)
of Indonesia and his wife Siti Ruqayah (centre L) of the Philippines attend a
police reconstruction at the crime scene in Jakarta on November 2, 2011. Patek,
a suspected member of the Al-Qaida-linked Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah
Islamiyah (JI), has been cooperating with police interrogators since his
extradition from Pakistan, where he was arrested in January in the town where
Osama bin Laden was subsequently killed by US commandos. While on the run Patek
was one of Asia's most wanted terror suspects and had a 1 million USD bounty on
his head under the US rewards for justice programme. AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY
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Bali bombing mastermind Umar Patek (R) of
Indonesia and his wife Siti Ruqayah (L) of the Philippines pose during a police
reconstruction at the crime scene in Jakarta on November 2, 2011. Patek, a
suspected member of the Al-Qaida-linked Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah
Islamiyah (JI), has been cooperating with police interrogators since his
extradition from Pakistan, where he was arrested in January in the town where
Osama bin Laden was subsequently killed by US commandos. While on the run Patek
was one of Asia's most wanted terror suspects and had a 1 million USD bounty on
his head under the US rewards for justice programme. AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY
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Bali bombing mastermind Umar Patek (R) of
Indonesia and his wife Siti Ruqayah (L) of the Philippines pose during a police
reconstruction at the crime scene in Jakarta on November 2, 2011. Patek, a
suspected member of the Al-Qaida-linked Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah
Islamiyah (JI), has been cooperating with police interrogators since his
extradition from Pakistan, where he was arrested in January in the town where
Osama bin Laden was subsequently killed by US commandos. While on the run Patek
was one of Asia's most wanted terror suspects and had a 1 million USD bounty on
his head under the US rewards for justice programme. AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY
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Indonesian militant Umar Patek, right, stand
with his wife Ruqayyah during a re-enacment of his role in the 2002 Bali
bombings, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. Patek was accused of
making the explosives used in the attacks on the resort island that killed 202
people, many of them foreign tourists while Ruqqayah is currently on trial on
charges of immigration violations. (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyah)
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Indonesian militant Umar Patek, left, walks
with his wife Ruqayyah during a re-enactment of his role in the 2002 Bali
bombings, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. Patek was accused of
making the explosives used in the attacks on the resort island that killed 202
people, many of them foreign tourists while Ruqqayah is currently on trial on
charges of immigration violations. (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyah)
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'I'm sorry from the bottom
of my heart': 'Demolition man' standing trial over Bali bombings says sorry to
victims - nine years after attack which killed 202 people
- Umar Patek apologises for terror attack in nightclub which left scores dead
- Militant muslim and alleged bombmaker is on trial for terror charges
- He faces the death penalty if found guilty in Jakarta
PUBLISHED: 16:02 GMT, 7 May 2012 | UPDATED: 08:21 GMT,
8 May 2012
The
militant Muslim accused of the Bali bombing which killed over 200 people today
apologised for the first time to victims of the atrocity.
Umar
Patek, a leading member of the Al-Qaeda-linked network Jemaah Islamiyah, is
standing trial in Jakarta on terrorism charges in connection with the 2002
attack which killed 202 people.
Today
Patek, nicknamed 'Demolition Man' after the explosions, said sorry to the
victims and their families before adding in court that he 'feels guilty' about
the bombings.
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| Indonesian terror suspect Umar Patek testifies during his trial in Jakarta, Indonesia Photo: EPA/MAST IRHAM |
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Patek
admitted mixing some of the parts in the bomb's explosives, but has denied
playing a major part in the attack
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Patek
denies playing a major role in assembling the massive car bomb that, on
Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, went off outside two nightclubs packed with foreign
tourists on the busiest night of the week.
But an
emotional Patek today told a courtroom: 'I still feel guilty.'
He later
added: 'From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to the victims and their
families.'
Patek
said: 'I knew about the plan. I helped mix some of the chemicals use in the
explosives. ... Why didn't I inform the police?'
A suicide
bomber inside one of the clubs had blown himself up, killing many people and
forcing others to run outside where the vehicle loaded with the bomb was
parked.
Another
suicide bomber then blew that up in an attack which eventually killed 88
Australian victims and seven Americans.
After the
bombings, Indonesia was thrust onto the front lines in the battle against
terrorism.
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Umar Patek, an Indonesian militant charged in
the 2002 Bali terrorist attacks, arrives to his trial in Jakarta, Indonesia,
Monday. Pic: AP.
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Accused
Bali bomber Umar Patek, centre, appears in a Jakarta court watched by
Australian survivor and witness Peter Hughes, left. Picture: AFP Source:
AFP
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There
have been several attacks targeting Western hotels, restaurants and an embassy
since then. But all have been far less deadly, thanks in part, security experts
say, to a relentless crackdown on Jemaah Islamiyah that has largely decimated
their ranks.
Patek,
who was arrested in Pakistan just over a year ago, told the court the Bali
bombings were in theory meant to avenge Western policies in the Palestinian
territories.
'From my
point of view, it was total failure,' the suspect told the court, adding he saw
'no connection' between the original mission, fighting against the oppression
of fellow Muslims, and the target, partying tourists.
'Yes,
most of the victims were white, but there were no Israelis,' he said. 'Some
were even Indonesian. That's a failure.'
Patek
faces a maximum penalty of death by firing squad if found guilty of
terror-related and criminal charges.
He
insists he didn't play a major role in assembling the massive car bomb - saying
that job fell to Jemaah Islamiyah bomb-making masterminds, Azahari bin Husin
and Dulmatin, both of whom have since been killed in police raids.
'I only
played a small role,' he said, acknowledging that he helped mix less than 50
kilograms (110 pounds) of nearly a ton of the chemicals used in the explosives.
'But I still feel guilty, because I was involved in an event that caused
massive casualties.'
'From the
bottom of my heart, I apologize to the victims and their families,' he said.
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| Umar Patek was arrested in January 2011 in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad. [AFP: Adek Berry] |
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| Umar Patek was arrested in January 2011 in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad. [AFP: Adek Berry] |
Patek,
nicknamed 'Demolition Man' by Indonesian investigators, escaped the country
after the attack and went on a nine-year flight from justice that took him to
the Philippines and Pakistan, allegedly in pursuit of more terror
opportunities.
Patek was
captured in January 2011 in Abbottabad, where U.S. Navy Seals would kill Osama
bin Laden just a few months later. Patek was then one of Asia's most wanted
terror suspects, with a $1 million bounty on his head.
The trial
could shed light on what Patek was doing in Abbottabad.
Indonesia's
Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro has said he was believed to be trying to
meet with bin Laden, but Patek has denied that, saying he was on way to seek
shelter in Afghanistan.
U.S. and
Pakistan investigators have suggested Patek's stay in Abottabad was pure
coincidence.
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Refusal:
After the case was adjourned until earlier this year, Patek shook hands with
all of the prosecutors except Rini Hartati, the only female team member. Ms
Hartati held out her hand but Patek rejected it by putting his right hand on
his chest
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My thoughts:
Unlike the Bali Bombers who were
executed by firing squad on 9 November 2008, Umar
Patek A.K.A The Demolition man is still alive and will be incarcerated for the
next 20 years, he could be released within 15 years if granted parole.
Although he apologized
to the victims of the attack, I doubt that he was sincerely remorseful, given
that evil smirk on his face. I suspected that he only confessed to his crimes,
as he does not want to be sentenced to death. I wished he could have been put
in front of the firing squad and squeal like a pig.
I heard some quotes from the victims
and survivors of the attack and I felt angry that Patek was allowed to keep his
life, the very thing he took from 202 people.
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Bali bombing mastermind Umar Patek of
Indonesia attends a police reconstruction at the crime scene in Jakarta on
November 2, 2011. Patek, a suspected member of the Al-Qaida-linked Southeast
Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), has been cooperating with police
interrogators since his extradition from Pakistan, where he was arrested in
January in the town where Osama bin Laden was subsequently killed by US
commandos. While on the run Patek was one of Asia's most wanted terror suspects
and had a 1 million USD bounty on his head under the US rewards for justice
programme. AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY
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On
Thursday 16 June 2011, Mr Hughes says while he thinks some
survivors from the 2002 bombings will be relieved to see Bashir jailed, others
would have preferred the death sentence.
"Look, a lot of us want this
guy to be put to death, the sack. It seems to work with these guys, where if
you take them off the streets, blow 'em away and that's it: you don't hear from
them again," he said.
"But as it is he'll be sitting
in jail, probably in a little bit of luxury. The police will look after him,
the military will look after him. He'll still have access to a lot of different
things that normal prisoners wouldn't get so who knows?"
Thursday 5 April 2012 - Outside the court, Mr Hughes said he hoped Umar
Patek would share the fate of Amrozi and two other members of the Jemaah
Islamiah terror cell responsible for the carnage - Mukhlas and Imam Samudra -
who were also executed four years ago.
“I
know one thing's for sure, we haven't heard from the three that got the death
penalty,” he said.
“So,
I think we just add one more to the list.”
Thursday 21 June 2012 - Mr
Hughes said Patek should have shared the same fate as three other members of
the Jemaah Islamiah terror cell responsible for the carnage - Amrozi, Mukhlas
and Imam Samudra - who were executed four years ago.
"Really, this guy should get the death penalty before anybody. To keep him alive, well, there's no reason to keep him alive. To get 20 years, after killing 202 people and injuring many hundreds, it's not much."
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SENTENCE OUTRAGE: June Corteen with a photo
of her twin daughters Jane and Jenny, who died in the 2002 nightclub bombing.
Picture: File
Source:
PerthNow
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Thursday 21 June 2012 - SURVIVORS and
relatives of the 202 people killed in the 2002 Bali bombing have reacted with
anger over the sentence given to the last of the plotters to face justice,
saying Umar Patek should face a firing squad.
Patek,
who spent almost 10 years on the run as one of South-East Asia's most wanted,
was yesterday sentenced to 20 years in jail for his role in building the
explosive devices used in the bombing.
He could be released within 15 years if granted parole.
The 45-year-old was found guilty of mass murder for the attack on two nightclubs in the popular tourist area of Kuta which left 202 people dead, including 88 Australians, and injured scores more.
He was also found guilty of a number of other terrorism-related charges, including a wave of bombings of churches across Indonesia on Christmas Eve in 2000.
Prosecutors had demanded a life sentence, although they could have pushed that the man dubbed the "Demolition Man" for his reputation as a master bomb-maker be sentenced to death.
The
decision has reignited painful memories for Perth mother June Corteen, who lost
her 39-year-old twin daughters Jane and Jenny in the destruction unleashed by
Patek and his co-conspirators almost a decade ago.
Fighting back tears, she said Patek should have been sentenced to death.
"I really feel that he should follow in the footsteps of the other guys. He should be put in front of the firing squad," Ms Corteen told AAP.
"I have to live every day without seeing more grandchildren, and my daughters."
Patek is the last of the Bali bombers to face justice.
He had avoided capture for almost a decade but was eventually apprehended in January 2011 in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad, where US forces killed former al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden less than four months later.
During the trial, an FBI agent testified that intelligence reports had revealed Patek was in Pakistan to meet with bin Laden in an effort to re-establish links between South-East Asian terrorist groups and al-Qaeda.
"He didn't give himself up," Ms Corteen said.
"Until just recently, he really didn't feel sorry for how much grief he caused other people."
The verdict comes ahead of the 10th anniversary of the attack later this year, which will be marked by ceremonies in Bali and Australia.
"There will be a lot of tears this year," Ms Corteen said.
Patek may yet appeal his sentence.
Umar Patek’s case, is another reason why it
let me to change from being opponent to supporter of the death penalty, as if
he was put to death and permanently removed from society, we will hear no more
from him and most of all, he will never be given a chance to commit any
terrorist activity again. I never agree with the life sentence for the worst of
the worst criminals, as the law might change and he might go free and also a
life sentence is not justice and punishment at all, when someone like him can
breathe when the victims are dead and gone.
Some
abolitionists will say, “Putting Umar Patek to death will make him a martyr,
better he be locked up and never released.”
No
way, I do not buy that. When he can keep his life, he may get to re offend through
release or behind bars. I thank God this is not the European Court of Human
Rights or he will enjoy his life in prison, or be released early.
I personally recommend them to speak to a terrorist like Umar Patek and
ask themselves these questions:
1. Can you truly
rehabilitate a terrorist?
2. Does life
without parole really mean what it is? Why is Umar Patek only given 20 years
and can be granted parole after 15 years?
3. Some of those
Bali Bombers have either been executed or killed by military action. What use
is it to keep some of them alive?
4. If terrorist do
not fear the death penalty, why is Umar Patek satisfied to be given 20 years
imprisonment and relief that he escaped the death sentence?
Umar Patek was lucky enough to
escaped the death penalty, unlike the Bali Bombers.
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