Final Court Appeal of Convicted Bali Bombers Dismissed
By Chad Bouchard
Jakarta
17 July 2008
Indonesia has denied final appeals for three men on death row convicted for deadly bombings on the island of Bali in October, 2002. Chad Bouchard reports from Jakarta.
Imam Samudra, Ali Ghufron and Amrozi Nurhasyim at jail in central Java, during demonstration calling for implementation of Islamic sharia law, after Eid al-Fitr prayer (2007 file photo)
The Indonesian Supreme Court rejected appeals from the three Islamic militants, and sent their decision to a district court in Bali.
The decision means Ali Ghufron, Imam Samudra and Amrozi Nurhasyim are one step closer to the firing squad.
The men were convicted in 2003 for their part in deadly nightclub bombings, which killed 202 people on the resort island.
Court officials say their most recent appeal, which was filed in May, was declared invalid.
Their last option is to appeal for clemency from Indonesia＇s president, but the men have repeatedly stated they would not do so because they are unwilling to admit wrongdoing.
Deputy Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga says the three men are running out of legal options.
He says in the case of the three bombers, they are waiting word on the decision from the Supreme Court. After that, he says, there will be no longer a reason to delay the executions.
The three men were convicted in 2003 for their part in the incident, and have not expressed remorse for the killings.
The men have stated in court that the bombings were retribution for the deaths of Muslims in Afghanistan, and that their actions were acceptable under their interpretation of Islam.
The three men are linked to the regional terrorism network Jemaah Islamiayah, which has ties to al-Qaida.
They are being held in an island prison off the coast of Java.
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