Bali Police Chief Supports Execution

By Barrie | September 12th, 2007 | 2 Comments »

The police chief Insp Gen Paulus Purwoko said he supported proposals that the execution of the three main perpetrators of the October 12, 2002 Bali bombings be carried out outside the resort island, for example in Nusakambangan, Central Java as the Antara News reports.

“Although it is beyond my authority, I support proposals that three Bali bombers — Amrozy, Imam Samudra, and Ali Gufron — be executed in Nusakambangan because that would perhaps be better for Bali,” Purwoko said here on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after opening a technical meeting on Bali police public relations affairs, Purwoko said Bali could be considered to be an international zone because many foreign tourists come to the island every year.

“Bali is also a peaceful region in Indonesia, and therefore we have to protect and maintain it. We don`t have to see the execution carried out here because the important thing is that the legal process takes place,” Purwoko said.

On Monday, Purwoko suggedsted that Amrozi et al who were on death row be executed in Bali so as to improve the country`s image, that of Bali in particular, in the world community`s eyes but it seemed that he had changed his mind.

Purwoko said now that the Supreme Court had rejected the request of the three Bali bombers — Amrozy, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron — to review their death sentences, their execution should be carried out in Bali because doing so would be good for the country`s international image.

“We are ready to carry out their execution anywhere we are ordered to,” Paulus Purwoko said here on Monday.

He made the statement to reporters when attending a function to say farewell to outgoing Bali High Court chairman I Gusti Made Lingga and welcome his successor, I Gusti Ngurah Suparka. The gathering was also attended by Supreme Court Chairman Bagir Manan and Bali Governor Dewa Beratha.

But noting that the three convicts were currently being held at a maximum-security jail in Nusakambangan, Central Java, Purwoko admitted that if the main consideration was practicality, the execution should be done in the island prison.

“We still do have to coordinate with the Denpasar Prosecution Office and Central Java police,” Purwoko said.

Asked if the Bali police had already prepared a firing squad to execute the three convicts whose judicial review request was rejected by the Supreme Court, Purwoko said he had yet to decide on the personnel.

However, he added, it was now still uncertain whether the execution would be carried out in Bali or in Central Java.