Anger as Bali bomber receives early release

RELATIVES of victims of the 2002 Bali bombings yesterday said they were “deeply alarmed and distressed” Indonesia had cut the sentences of 12 people jailed over the attacks.

One Islamic militant convicted for his part in the nightclub bombings — which killed 202 people — walked free yesterday after having his prison term cut by four months.

The reduction of the sentences to mark Indonesia’s Independence Day, in line with local tradition, provoked an angry reaction from families of those murdered in the suicide attacks.

Three militants serving time in Balikpapan on the Indonesian island of Borneo had their sentences reduced by four months yesterday, allowing one of them, named Puryanto, to be released.

Nine other men imprisoned on Bali also had their sentences cut by four months, Indonesian justice ministry official Djoko Bambang Untung said.

The news sparked anger in Australia, which lost 88 citizens in the attacks.

“I want people to know that this is ridiculous, these short sentences,” said David Stewart, whose son Anthony was among the dead.

Peter Hughes, who was injured in the attacks, also objected.

“It is OK for me, I am alive, I bear the scars of what it is all about, but you have to feel for the victims’ families. They cop it every time this comes up. It must be very draining for them.”

Indonesia has arrested hundreds of al-Qaida-linked militants in recent years and jailed 33 people over the 2002 bombings, the first in a series of annual attacks on the country blamed on the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network.

Among those imprisoned was the group’s reputed spiritual head, Abu Bakar Bashir, who was freed in June.

Those who benefited from Thursday’s sentence reductions played relatively minor roles in the suicide bombings, from helping shelter the main suspects to carrying out robberies to finance the attacks.

Three militants are scheduled to be executed later this month and three others are serving life sentences.

Hamid Awaluddin, Indonesia’s justice and human rights minister, said 54,000 prisoners had their sentences cut today, most by a few months, and of those 6,000 were freed.

The UK Bali Bombing Victims’ Group said it was “deeply inappropriate and distressing” for the Indonesian authorities to be discussing clemency.