The Bali Bombers Are Executed
November 9, 2008

This morning’s execution of three terrorists responsible for the 2002 Bali bombing closes one chapter in this long-running saga. But there are still many other chapters yet to be written.

The three – Armrozi, Imam Samudra and Mukhlas – were only part of the conspiracy. There are others still on the run, not least alleged bomb-maker Noordin Mohammad Top and another operations planner Dulmatin. There is a broader risk that the execution will now inspire a new generation of Indonesian terrorists who see themselves as “holy warriors” and so continue their struggle.

The execution therefore presented the Indonesian authorities with a major dilemma. On the one hand, there is no doubt that these men were responsible for the attacks. They showed no sign of remorse and asked for no forgiveness. They were defiant to the end. Most Indonesian people probably feel that they got what they deserved.

On the other hand, their deaths may encourage a new generation of terrorists to also take up the path of warrior martyrdom. There are also religious arguments against the death penalty and a broad international move to have an international ban on all capital punishment (which was supported by the Howard Government and is also supported by the new Rudd Government).

Additionally there are some Australians charged with serious drug crimes who are also on death row. It is a difficult to argue for the death penalty for Bali terrorists and yet also plead for clemency for the drug dealers. Many Indonesians will feel that they, too, are going to get what they deserve.

On balance I think that the death penalty was probably the right way to go and that the Indonesian President was correct to turn down all attempts to give them a life sentence. First, the Bali bombing and other acts of violence against the Indonesian Government have been direct challenges to the Government. Lots of violent crimes take place (such as murders within households) but almost all of them are not deliberate actions to challenge the legitimacy of a government itself: the criminals are following a personal agenda of some sort rather than a political one based on treason.

The Bali bombing was a deliberate act against the Indonesian Government itself and a challenge to its right to govern. The Government had to be seen to act decisively for fear that other potential terrorists might think that the Government was getting soft. Years ago I was among those that criticized the then Indonesian Government for not recognizing the extent of the emerging home grown terrorist threat from religious extremists. Now its decisive action overnight (plus the new post-Bali spirit of co-operation with the Australian Federal Police) is showing that it is now up to speed on this matter. Yes: their execution may lead to others now being inspired to come forward to fight a “holy war” – but they may have done so anyway if they thought that the Government was getting weak.

Second, if the three had not died this morning there was a risk that they could have later ended up free. Indonesian prisons are nasty, brutal places but not necessarily fully secure. There was a risk that the prisoners, if given a life sentence, could have escaped. Additionally, governments offer amnesties to some prisoners to commemorate important events. They may have stayed for several years in prison but eventually won their release through good behaviour and a government deciding to take a risk with their freedom.

At least there are now three fewer terrorists for the world to worry about.