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Indonesia Considers Repatriation of Bali Bombing Mastermind from Guantanamo Bay

Indonesia Considers Repatriation of Bali Bombing Mastermind from Guantanamo Bay
Indonesia Considers Repatriation of Bali Bombing Mastermind from Guantanamo Bay. Image Source: Forum Keadilan

The Indonesian government is considering the repatriation of Encep Nurjaman, a.k.a. Hambali, from the Guantanamo military prison in the United States.

Hambali is a former member of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group which was responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings as well as the 2003 JW Marriott Jakarta bombings. He has been detained in Guantanamo Bay for more than two decades without legal certainty.

The Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, emphasised that the government is not only focusing on foreign prisoners in Indonesia but also on Indonesian citizens facing legal issues abroad – including detained Indonesian terrorists such as Hambali.

He, Hambali, is an Indonesian citizen, and no matter how guilty our citizens are abroad, we still have to look after them. The public should know that we are not only taking care of foreign prisoners in Indonesia but also the Indonesian [prisoners] abroad,” said Mahendra as quoted from the press on Sunday, the 19th of January.

Back in the year 2003, Hambali used a series of safe-houses throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Cambodia, to move around. In August, his location was found in a joint operation between the Thai police and CIA. In September 2006, President George W. Bush confirmed that Hambali was being held by the CIA and had been transferred to Guantanamo Bay.

Hambali
Hambali

Mahendra explained that if Hambali were to be returned to Indonesia, his case would most likely be considered closed. 

After more than 18 years, the case can no longer be prosecuted. We see that the current government has a policy for reconciliation, especially after Jemaah Islamiyah disbanded and declared loyalty to the state,” Mahendra explained.

Mahendra also revealed that he will discuss the matter regarding Hambali with President Prabowo Subianto as well as the United States government.

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