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Umar Patek addressing jihadists at an Abu Sayyaf mountain camp on Jolo island in southern Philippines in 2007. AP photo. |
Pakistan appears to be prepared to send Jemaah Islamiya commander Umar Patek back to Indonesia to be tried for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings. Patek was arrested in Abbottabad earlier this year and is said to have been in the city to meet Osama bin Laden, the head of al Qaeda who was killed on May 1 during a US special operations raid. AFP reports on Patek’s upcoming transfer:
An alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people will be sent to Indonesia after being arrested in Pakistan in March, a senior counter terrorism official said Monday.
“Pakistan has delivered a message early July that they will send Umar Patek to Indonesia,” National Anti-Terror Agency (BNPT) deputy chief Tito Karnavian told reporters.
Jakarta’s foreign and justice ministries are now working to process Patek’s deportation, he said.
In early July, the head of Indonesia’s National Antiterrorism Agency said Patek’s transfer may increase the threat of terrorism in the region, and warned that it may be difficult to convict for his role in the Bali attacks as it occurred before more stringent laws on terrorism were enacted one year later.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the head of Indonesia’s anti-terrorism agency Ansyaad Mbai said Patek would become a new figurehead for violent jihadis if returned to the country of his birth.
“Umar Patek was chased by many countries. There was a (million dollar) prize on his head but now that he’s arrested it’s as if Indonesia must face the problem alone,” Ansyaad told the newspaper.
“This man is very dangerous. His presence here would increase the terror threat, not only to Indonesia but to several countries with a presence here…
Ansyaad told the Herald Indonesia would face difficulties bringing him to justice, saying that the bombings occurred before Indonesia enacted its counter-terrorism laws.
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6 Comments
Is there a mistake in the first sentence?
“…back to the Philippines to be tried for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings.”
Don’t think that was supposed to be Philippines
Pakistan appears to be prepared to send Jemaah Islamiya commander Umar Patek back to the Philippines to be tried for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings. Patek was arrested in Abbottabad earlier this year and is said to have been in the city to meet Osama bin Laden, the head of al Qaeda who was killed on May 1 during a US special operations raid. Dawn reports on Patek’s upcoming transfer:
An alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people will be sent to Indonesia after being arrested in Pakistan in March, a senior counter terrorism official said Monday.
…………
Is Patek going to the Phillipines or Indonesia?
At least we know Umar Patek will get the maximum punishment in the punitive justice system of Indonesia. He has been brought to justice and may he spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Fixed, it is of course Indonesia (as the title stated). Don’t ask me why I wrote “Philippines” as I can’t answer that. Thanks for the catch.
Perhaps he’ll disappear some where over the India Ocean while trying ot escape from the airplane transporting him to Indonesia. Finally having the meeting with Usama bin Ladin afterall.
I’ve never seen Umar Patek in any propaganda videos, but he doesn’t need to be.
Just look at that photo.
That picture is worth a thousand words, none of them good words.