JAKARTA,
October 4, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Jailed
Indonesian Muslim scholar Abu Bakar Bashir condemned Tuesday, October
4, the Bali terrorist blasts, as Muslims and Hindus came together in
the Indonesian island in a show of unity against the attacks.
"I
really disapprove of bombings in non-conflict areas for whatever
reason, including in Bali, because it can be almost certain that
innocent and unknowing victims would fall," Bashir said in a
statement read by his assistant Hasyim Abdullah, reported Agence
France Presse (AFP).
Three
suicide bombers blew themselves up at three popular eateries in Bali
on Saturday, October 1, killing 19 other people, including five
foreigners, and wounding more than 100.
"I
am sorry for the bombing victims, who essentially know nothing,
especially the Muslims," said Bashir.
A
lawyer for the Muslim scholar Bashir told Reuters the Muslim scholar
had not been visited by police or questioned in relation to the latest
blasts.
Bashir
was arrested a week after the 2002 Bali bombings, which left over 200
people dead, mostly tourists, and was put on trial the following year.
The
Muslim scholar denies any link to the bombings or being the alleged
leader of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI), which is blamed for a series of
attacks in Asia.
Many
Muslim leaders in South East Asia strongly denying the existence of
the JI, saying it is only part of a plot by the US and its allies to
undermine Islam and the Muslims in this region.
Show
of Unity
 |
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Indonesians of different religions pray in front of the bombing site. (Reuters)
|
In
a show of unity, 200 Muslim and Hindu Balinese came together to
denounce the Saturday's terrorist bombings.
"This
attack is savage. We condemn the action. We are here to show
solidarity among the various faiths in Indonesia," said K.S.
Arsana, chairman of the Jakarta-based Hindu Youth Association.
The
mourners, who were joined by Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists,
banged drums, recited prayers and threw flowers into the sea in an
interfaith procession to the blast sites on the predominantly Hindu
island.
They
pledged not to let the weekend attacks spark religious division in the
world's largest Muslim-populated nation.
Interrogations
Police
said Tuesday they may interrogate the convicted bombers behind the
2002 Bali blasts, including three on death row, as they try to
identify the masterminds behind the latest attacks.
"That's
one of the possibilities that we are exploring," Bali's police
chief Mangku Pastika told reporters when asked about a report that the
interrogation had already begun.
"It's
quite possible that we will pursue that kind of matter."
Pastika
said police were concentrating on identifying the three dead suicide
bombers, whose severed heads were recovered relatively undamaged.
He
fended off criticism that the investigation has moved too slowly.
"Actually,
this case is already half solved. On the second day, we were able to
determine that this was a suicide bombing," said the two-star
general.
He
added that two people were being interrogated as part of the
investigation into the blasts, but so far there was no indication they
were involved.
"They
are just being interrogated and there are as yet no strong indications
that they are involved in the bombings," Pastika said, adding
they were taken into detention two days ago in Bali.
