Spiritual Leader of Group Behind Bali Bombings Released

17th January, 2019

In an extraordinary development yesterday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo advised he was releasing Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of the group behind the Bali Bombings next week, once the paperwork and formalities were completed.

In another extraordinary development, it was also reported yesterday that President Widodo has come under pressure from political opponents who claim he is not "Islamic enough." President Widodo said he had personally been considering this decision for some time and the release was due to humanitarian considerations, namely Bashir's 81 years of age, health care requirements, frailty and need to be closer to his family.

With political considerations clearly in mind, the news of Bashir's release was also used to demonstrate to political opponents and the community that President Widodo does not persecute or criminalise the ulema (Muslim scholars recognized as having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology), charges which have long been levied against President Widodo by hard-line Islamist and opposition groups within Indonesia.

In March 2018, our then Foreign Minister Julie Bishop described Bashir as the "mastermind" of the 2002 Bali bombings. Whilst previously jailed over those bombings (which killed 202 people including 88 Australians), Bashir's conviction was later overturned on appeal even though Bashir was the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, the regional terror group blamed for the 2002 bombings and the co-founder of the infamous Islamic boarding school known for producing militants. Bashir was later arrested, convicted and jailed for 15 years in 2011 for setting up a paramilitary training camp in Aceh province, and this release is regarding this conviction.

Philip believes the decision to release Bashir is an affront to all the victims, survivors and their families similarly affected by the Bali bombings, the operations of Jemaah Islamiyah and the terrorist activities undertaken by Bashir and his followers. Bashir also spoke to the media from inside his prison yesterday wherein he said "I fight because I want this country to be saved, both Muslim and Non-Muslims living in this world. Muslims will be saved in this life and the after life so do not get it wrong, I did not fight against this country, I fought for this country."

What's clear to Philip however is that Bashir's shown little or no remorse whilst serving time in prison and even now, with his imminent release, Bashir is still defiant, and in his mind, he is still fighting for Indonesia. It's also reported Bashir pledged allegiance to Islamic State whilst in prison, and yesterday there was little sign of his frailty so to put it bluntly, Bashir is a terrorist, has extreme radical ideologies, and together with his history, teachings, conduct etc continues to be a major threat to the world, to Indonesia, to the Indonesian President, to our region and to humanity generally.

If history has shown us anything, we must be prepared to stand up to extremists no matter where they may be in the world. Terrorism must be eliminated, as is the ability of radical Islamic extremists to be allowed to incite others to carry out attacks against innocent civilians, and in Bashir's case, to drive division between Muslims and Non-Muslims as he stated yesterday.

Fear is the new paradigm that's used globally as a weapon to threaten humanity. Its therefore incumbent on our government, our military, security and intelligence agencies (including liaising with our allies) to ensure the safety of our citizens, our values, our way of life and to ensuring my fellow Australians are no longer threatened, intimidated or feel unsafe any longer.

This matter is very personal to Philip and Terri as their close friends' son was part of the Kingsley Football Club's end of season trip to Bali, and was in the Sari Club the night the bomb exploded. Whilst he survived, others didn't, and the Kingsley Football Club lost 7 of its 20 sons on that fateful trip. Philip and Terri have seen firsthand the consequences of the bombing and its aftermath, hence Philips belief that the decision by President Widodo is an affront to all the victims, survivors and their families similarly connected with the bombings and Bashir.

Australia is not immune to the threats of terrorism and following the Bourke Street terrorist attack in Melbourne on the 9 November 2018, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the greatest threat to our country is the radical and dangerous ideology of extremist Islam, which Bashir embodies. Likewise, our Prime Minister said there is a special responsibility on religious leaders to protect their religious communities and to ensure the dangerous teachings and ideologies do not take route here.

v Whilst Philip understands that Indonesia is a sovereign country, so is Australia and it is on that basis that Philip says his fellow Australians and he is disappointed with the decision by President Widodo. Its equally disappointing that President Widodo can find compassion for a man like Bashir, but not for Australians Andrew Chan or Myuran Sukumaran who were executed by an Indonesian firing squad. Ironically its Bashir that should have faced a firing squad for his crimes, even though the authorities and Indonesian Government refused, and continue to refuse the representations of the Australian Government in Bashir's matter.

No matter how Indonesia and President Widodo attempts to portray this decision, let's not forget all the victims, and the many nationalities involved and that it does not sit well internationally, especially considering the substantial amount of Official Development Assistance (money, overseas aid, equipment and hardware) that Australia provides to Indonesia, which currently stands at $316.2m for the 2018/ 2019 year.

Australians will no longer be silenced or live in fear, and nor will we accept that terrorists like Bashir, and other radical Islamic extremists will be allowed to continue to cause fear in the community. We will locate them and will, as part of an international coalition with our allies defeat them at their source. The time for terrorism is at an end and I pledge to my fellow Australians to do everything in my power to protect our country, my fellow Australians and humanity generally.

Philip Couper

(Source - 9 News Perth 19 January 2019)

Total Fatalities	202

Fatalities by age
(Source: Sydney Morning Herald)

Age	Deaths
Under 21	20
21-30	77
31-40	73
Over 40	28
Unknown	4

Fatalities by nationality
(Source: SBS News Australia)

Nationality	Deaths
Australia	88
Indonesia	38
United Kingdom	23
United States	7
Germany	6
Sweden	5
Netherlands	4
France	4
Denmark	3
Switzerland	3
New Zealand	2
Brazil	2
Canada	2
Japan	2
South Africa	2
South Korea	2
Ecuador	1
Greece	1
Ireland	1
Italy	1
Poland	1
Portugal	1
Taiwan	1
Unknown	2