Indonesia: March 3, 2005

Archives

Senior Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir was convicted of leading the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network, and presiding over the 2002 Bali bombing. But the court only gave him 30 months in jail. The government admits that radical Islamic clerics are preaching in favor of violence, but is reluctant to lean on these religious figures too hard. Sort of local custom, as powerful men who are overthrown are treated gently. The idea is to avoid stirring up the big guys followers, to avoid a bloody civil war. To outsiders, it appears that guilty people, if powerful and prominent enough, can get away with murder. Lesser members of Jemaah Islamiah have been found guilty of the Bali bombing, and given severe punishments (long prison sentences or death sentences.)

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close