Fed: Govt should intervene in Bali bomber sentence

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2004
Fed: Govt should intervene in Bali bomber sentence

MELBOURNE, Aug 25 AAP - The federal government should use diplomatic pressure to ensure
an appropriate sentence for self-confessed Bali bomber Idris, the Opposition said today.

Idris, alias Jhoni Hendrawan, reportedly burst into laughter after a u-turn in Indonesian
law meant he will remain unpunished for his part in the October 2002 blasts that killed
202 people, including 88 Australians.

Opposition Leader Mark Latham today told Melbourne radio 3AW it was up the government
to ensure justice was done.

"Hopefully the Australian government will be using all of its diplomatic pressure and
representations to the Indonesians to get justice," he said.

"Justice delayed is justice denied and in the case of these Bali bombers all Australians
want them to feel the full weight of the law."

He said it was a "question of the constitutionality" of Indonesia's anti-terrorism laws.

"I would have thought that, if you had owned up to killing people, that that's murder
and things can be done under the legal system," he said.

"It's up to the government to work through those issues with the Indonesian authority
and make sure we get the justice as quickly as possible."

AAP rb/gfr/sco/sd

KEYWORD: TERROR INDON AUST LATHAM

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