Homeland Security

DATE=10/27/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=INDONESIA / TERROR TRIAL L-ONLY

NUMBER=2-219936

BYLINE=TIM JOHNSTON

DATELINE=JAKARTA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Alleged terror leader to be tried in Indonesia

INTRO: The alleged spiritual leader of Southeast Asia's most dangerous terrorist group is due to go on trial in Indonesia Thursday. Militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir is accused of involvement in at least two attacks on western targets. But, as Tim Johnston reports from Jakarta, prosecutors have a difficult job ahead of them.

TEXT: Abu Bakar Bashir is accused of being the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, the regional militant group behind both the 2002 nightclub bombings on the tourist island of Bali - which killed 202 people - and last year's attack on the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, in which 12 died.

Specifically, the 66-year-old cleric is charged with granting permission to one of the key members of the Bali gang to carry out the attack, and of encouraging the men behind the Marriott blast. If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to death by firing squad.

Bashir has made no secret of his hatred of the West, but he has always denied any involvement in terrorism. He says Indonesian authorities are only trying him because of international pressure. Lawyer Wirawan Adnan is member of the Bashir defense team.

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"This is all fabricated. All of this is just a show, a trial for show. They really do not have a case against him and it is all based on assumptions."

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Intelligence and terrorism experts disagree and say Bashir was a key player in Jemaah Islamiyah. They point out that six of the 10 key members of the Bali attack were graduates of the Islamic boarding school Bashir founded and ran in Indonesia until his initial arrest and conviction in 2002 on immigration violations.

J.I. aims to create a pan Islamic state encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, parts of the Philippines and Thailand.

Sidney Jones is the head of Southeast Asia operations for the independent, International Crisis Group, and has made a special study of Jemaah Islamiyah.

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"I think that there is no question that he [Bashir] played a leading role in Jemaah Islamiyah. I think there is no question that he had contact with people in al Qaida. I think there's probably evidence out there that he played some role in financial transactions, but I still think they have an uphill battle on their hands making the case that he was guilty of terrorism after Bali."

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Dozens of J.I. members have been rounded up over the past two years convicted in Indonesia, but a small number of key figures still remain at large. Ms. Jones says whether Bashir is convicted or not will make little difference to the fact that the group still has the motivation and skills to carry out further terrorist attacks. (signed)

NEB/HK/TJ/JJ