Indonesia's Bashir awaits verdict, security tight
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-03-03 09:36

Thousands of police officers took up positions around a makeshift Indonesian courtroom on Thursday as an Islamic cleric awaited the verdict of his terrorism trial in the world's most populous Muslim country.

Abu Bakar Bashir, the alleged spiritual leader of the Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiah, faces up to eight years in jail if found guilty.

But the ruling, which could see a much lighter sentence or even an acquittal, may disappoint those who regard the 66-year-old Bashir as an al Qaeda-linked terrorist kingpin.

Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir (top) waves as he arrives under tight security for his trial in Jakarta March 3, 2005. A verdict is expected on Thursday in the terrorism trial of Indonesian cleric Bashir, with tight security in the courtroom and police promising "maximum force" against any outbreaks of violence. [Reuters]

The trial, which began in October last year, is the second time Indonesian prosecutors have gone after Bashir. The first effort to convict him of leading the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah using laws against subversion was thrown out by judges because of a lack of evidence.

Bashir did, however, serve 18 months for immigration offences and was released last April, only to be immediately re-arrested on the new charges.

This trial too has been plagued by weak evidence and reluctant witnesses, although some analysts say there is a case.

"I don't think people should rush to assume that he will be acquitted," said Timothy Lindsey, director of the Asian Law Center at the University of Melbourne and an expert on Indonesia.

"This case is about the anti-terror laws and the previous case was about subversion. The anti-terror laws are even more friendly to the prosecution," he said.

The inability of prosecutors to gain a conviction in the first case on the more serious counts reinforced the view of many Indonesians that Jemaah Islamiah does not exist, and that the war on terrorism was a U.S. effort to oppress Islam, a sentiment Bashir played on during his latest trial.

"EVIL CONSPIRACY"

Police have said they will use "maximum force" against any disturbances by Bashir's supporters when the verdict is read.

Two water cannon trucks were stationed outside the agriculture ministry auditorium building where the trial is being held and a smattering of supporters had shown up soon after sunrise for the session due to start around 9am (9 p.m. EST).

Cars parked near the building were ordered to be moved.

"You don't want anything to happen to them," a policeman said over a loudspeaker.

Bashir has been charged with criminal acts of arson and explosion in relation to 2002 blasts on Bali island that killed 202 people, and an "evil conspiracy" under anti-terror laws in connection with a Jakarta hotel bombing in 2003 that killed 12.

He has denied all the charges as well as the existence of Jemaah Islamiah. A charge that he inspired bombings as a leader of Jemaah Islamiah was dropped by prosecutors citing a lack of evidence.

A second acquittal or light sentence could draw sharp criticism from some foreign capitals, particularly Washington and Canberra, where Bashir is seen as Jemaah Islamiah's spiritual leader.

"I think it's important that the international community not read a light sentence as an indication that the government has failed," said Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Group.

"The prosecution case on his second trial has been quite weak," she said.

Jakarta has won praise for trying and jailing dozens of militants involved in the Bali and Marriott hotel bombings. Three Bali bombers have been sentenced to death.

Another leading Indonesia expert said an acquittal for Bashir would put pressure on the government. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Indonesians find some other way to hold him," said Harold Crouch of the Australian National University in Canberra.

The secretive nature of terrorist networks operating in small and often virtually autonomous cells means it is difficult to build cases that will gain convictions in court, analysts say.

"I think it's better for him to be found not guilty and watch him closely," said Crouch.

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