Security stepped up in Indonesia ahead of execution of Bali bombers
Updated
The Australian government and Indonesian authorities are taking extra security precautions as the execution of the three Bali bombers appears to be imminent. We gauge the mood in Jakarta.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Wimar Witoeler, Indonesian commentator and former presidential spokesman
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SEN LAM: Wimar Witoeler, good morning to you.
WIMAR WITOELER: Morning.
SEN LAM: Is the imminent execution of the Bali bombers garnering much attention over there?
WIMAR WITOELER: Not really. People are just hoping it will happen and that we can get on to other important things.
SEN LAM: Well, sections of the Australian media have been baying for revenge, prompting this comment from the Director of the Asia Law Centre at the Melbourne University Tim Lindsay.
TIM LINDSAY: Whatever is said now in Australia about these events will apply also to the three members of the Bali nine, Scott Rush, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan who also face the same fate. And whatever is said here in Australia that might celebrate or endorse these pretty horrendous events will be thrown straight back in the face of these young Australians.
SEN LAM: Professor Tim Lindsay, Australian law expert at the University of Melbourne. Wimar Witoeler, what do you make of that comment, that while appealing for clemency for the three Aussies on death row, some Australians are showing double standards in wanting the death penalty for some other crimes?
WIMAR WITOELER: Oh, I'm not quite sure what the final message was. I know Tim Lindsay well, he always means well, but in my simple mind these people have been investigated, tried and convicted for terrorism, murder and the law says they should undergo the death penalty. So there is no question about that. The execution just has to go on. As far as the wider ramifications of the death penalty, I also am one who is inclined not to agree with it, but until the law changes it should be applied rigorously and there's no case which is more clear than in these three cases and I think the sooner we get the execution done the better.
SEN LAM: What is the prevailing attitude though? I mean there were many Indonesians killed as well in addition to the 88 Australians. Are there cries for revenge in Indonesia?
WIMAR WITOELER: I'm not sure what you mean by revenge. If the revenge is that which is exacted by justice, this is it. The convictions and executions of the three terrorists is revenge conducted through the channels of the law. I'm not sure I understand what other kinds of revenge we need.
SEN LAM: Indeed, Wimar Witoeler, just very quickly, what effect do you think the execution of the Bali bombers might have on radicalism in Indonesia? Do you think many young Islamists might look at the executions as some kind of martyrdom?
WIMAR WITOELER: Ah, no. If it had any effect it would have been done at the time of the conviction and at the time the execution drew near. I suspect delays in the execution were also done for the experts to measure the possible impacts. Although it's a foregone conclusion that the execution would have to be done anyway. We can not worry about that while we let justice go astray.
SEN LAM: Wimar Witoeler, thank you so much for your time this morning.
