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Mr.
Phillip L. Antweiler:
“Travel Warning Merely a Tip”
 A
Recent remarkable statement from General
Consulate of US, Mr. Phillip L. Antweiler,
says “Travel warnings applied by his
country is merely to inform US citizens
who wish to visit to every country including
Indonesia”.
Bali Travel News was present at a meeting
with the Structuring Team, ‘Ground
Zero’ at Bappeda, Badung, and last
Friday (12/9). Phillips said, the travel
warnings are always given for US citizen
who want to travel abroad, including Indonesia.
“We are not allowed to forbid or control
them. We only give the information to our
citizens who want to visit Indonesia, including
Bali,” he said.
Mr. Antweiler said his government would
be involved in the construction plan of
a Bali Bomb Victims Monument. This construction
proves that Indonesia and especially Bali
has great concern for last years bomb tragedy.
On another hand, the US wants to gain a
clearer status on the project, from financing,
land exemption and the inclusion of victim’s
names from 21 countries that died in that
horrific tragedy. “Our conversation
is focused only for that project. We do
not intend to interfere with the construction
project; we are only curious to know how
it will be executed, and if it’s connected
with similar sentiments between Indonesia
and USA to fight terrorism ” he said.
The US is supportive of Indonesia’s
efforts to exterminate terrorists. The US
government has contributed 90 units of Bomb
detectors to the Bali Provincial Police,
30 car mirrors, and 60 hand unit detectors.
Whilst for the monument’s construction,
the US will give a contribution.
The Head of Physical and Facility Sector,
Bappeda Badung, Suambara said the funds
prepared by the Provincial Government for
monument construction is Rp.1.5 billion.
That does not include the land exemption
of ground zero. The plan is that the monument
altar will be completed by the 12 October.
The monument will resemble a plaza in the
center of the street. The design contains
a philosophy, so each monument’s corner
and space has a special meaning.
(BTN/013)
Ali
Imron Escapes Death Sentence
The
Denpasar judge panel have found Ali Imron
guilty for his act of terrorism and handed
out a verdict of life sentence in jail.
Unlike the two other main Bali bombing suspects,
Amrozi and Imam Samudra who are already
on death row, Ali Imron escaped the death
sentence. The sentence, however, is much
higher than the 20 years jail sought by
the public prosecutors weeks before.
At the trial on Thursday (18/9) the judge
panel of five lead by Mulyani, appreciated
Ali Imron’s openness and regrets to
what he had done in the attack during the
trial process. Judges also underlined the
sense of remorse that was shown by Ali Imron.
During the trials Ali Imron who always appeared
in court with shirt and tie, instead of
the Islamic shirt style, also told the court
how he wanted his friends and students at
Islamic boarding schools, not to follow
his actions and avoid the use of violence.
Despite of his expression of remorse, Ali
Imron, according to the judge, deserved
the life sentence because of his important
role in the Bali bombing. It was Ali Imron,
who helped make the bomb, showed the suicide
bombers how to execute it, carried out the
attack near American Consulate and drove
the car-bomb to Legian St, before being
driven to the Sari Club. He and the other
suspects resulted in the deaths of more
than 200 people and damaging hundreds of
house and public facilities. Like Amrozi
and Imam Samudra, Ali Imron has also lodged
an appeal.
Meanwhile, another key suspect of the Bali
plot, Muklas, who is the brother of Amrozi
and Ali Imron, will be sentenced on 2 October.
This means that the trial process of the
main suspects of the Bali bombing will be
finalized before October the 12th this year
with the exception of another suspect Indris,
who is still undergoing police interviews.
The fact that the trial of the key Bali
bombing suspects has finished before one
year gives police more time to concentrate
to ensure the security of the memorial service
on 12 October 2003, in which the Prime Minister
of Australia, John Howard and hundreds of
victims relatives will attend. The ceremony
will be held at Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural
Park in Jimbaran. (BTN/04)
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