Reuters Friday, October 24, 2008
CHRONOLOGY-Indonesia to execute Bali bombers in early November Oct 24 - Indonesia said it will execute three Islamic militants who were convicted of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people -- in early November. Here are some key dates since the deadly blasts. Oct 12, 2002: Blasts at the tourist island Bali's Kuta Beach nightclub area kill 202 people, including 88 Australians. Militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) is blamed. Nov 5: Indonesian police arrest the first suspect, a mechanic called Amrozi from East Java. Nov 21: Police arrest the alleged chief planner of the bombings, Imam Samudra, a 33-year-old engineer from West Java. Dec 4: Amrozi's older brother, Mukhlas, a Muslim preacher also known as Ali Ghufron, is arrested in central Java. He is alleged to be the operational chief of JI in Southeast Asia. May 12, 2003: Amrozi goes on trial, charged with plotting the attacks and buying the explosives. He is dubbed the "smiling bomber" for his expressions of delight during court appearances. June 2: Imam Samudra goes on trial. June 16: Mukhlas's trial opens. One week later he retracts all statements, saying he was tortured into confessing. Aug 7: Tears flow and survivors applaud in court as Amrozi is found guilty and is sentenced to death. Sept 10: Imam Samudra is found guilty of masterminding the attacks and is sentenced to death. Oct 2: Mukhlas is sentenced to death. He pleads for a reduction, and says he will appeal. July 25, 2006: An official from Bali's district attorney's office says the three may be executed in August. Aug 21: Indonesia delays executions of the three bombers, as defence lawyers plan to request a Supreme Court judicial review. Sept 12, 2007: The three Bali bombers say they will not seek a presidential pardon after the Supreme Court throws out Amrozi's final appeal. May 12, 2008: Amrozi remarries his ex-wife, though he is not present at the ceremony. Aug 6: Lawyers for the three men lodge a legal challenge on Indonesia's method of execution, saying that death by firing squad is inhumane. Oct 1: The three men celebrate their last Eid al-Fitr in prison and warn that their friends will avenge their deaths. Oct 20: Indonesia's constitutional court overrules the bombers' petition and upholds the use of firing squad for executions. Oct 24: Attorney general's office sets execution date for early November. (Writing by Gill Murdoch, Beijing Editorial Reference Unit; Editing by Sara Webb and Sanjeev Miglani) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
