Quotes of the Day

Monday, Aug. 04, 2003

Open quoteLast week Wan Min Bin Wan Mat, a witness in the trial of Ali Gufron, a.k.a. Mukhlas (pictured), alleged mastermind of the Bali attack, confirmed what investigators have long suspected: Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda had directly funded the Oct. 12, 2002 bombings which killed 202 people. Wan Min, who is being held without trial under terrorism charges in Malaysia and testified by video-link, is Jemaah Islamiah's (JI) putative treasurer, and he confessed to personally delivering the $30,000 used to fund the Bali attack. That was merely the latest in a series of revelations that have been entered into the docket in courtrooms around Indonesia. In Jakarta and Bali, self-confessed or alleged members of JI have proven to be most voluble and capricious defendants:

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August 11, 2003 Issue
 

ASIA
 India: Hindu-Muslim Tensions
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NOTEBOOK
 Korea: Talking About Talks
 Cambodia: Hun Sen Reelected
 Philippines: More Military Unrest?
 Terror: Bali Bombers in Court
 Milestones
 Verbatim
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TRAVEL
 The End of Long Haul Travel?


CNN.com: Top Headlines
Abubakar Ba'asyir
Accused of being head of JI, on trial in Jakarta for treason and other charges not related to Bali
Trial Status: Continuing
Most interesting moment: July 15, when the 63-year-old cleric lectured the judges that all Muslims are obliged by their religion to fight "infidels" who oppress Islam

Imam Samudra
Alleged operational chief of the Bali attacks
Trial Status: Nearing conclusion, with a verdict possible within weeks
Most dramatic moment: Samudra's screaming outburst against "infidels" and "crusaders" when confronted by relatives of Bali victims

Amrozi
Youngest brother of Mukhlas and supposed purchaser of the van used to carry the main bomb
Trial Status: Verdict to be announced on August 7th
Most dramatic moment: On Friday, Amrozi sang a song of his own composition from jail:

You can do jihad anywhere
Until the spirit has left the body
Kick out the mean Zionists
Kick out the filthy people of the crucifix
Ali Imron
Middle brother and accused conspirator
Trial Status: Ongoing
Most dramatic moment: None. Unlike his two brothers, Imron appears in court in a suit and tie and has expressed remorse for his actions Close quote

  • Simon Elegant | Kuala Lumpur
  • The trial of the accused Bali bombers has had some interesting moments
| Source: The trial of the accused Bali bombers has had some interesting moments