Terror suspect accused of building bombs for Bali attacks apologizes to victims

Описание: (7 May 2012) 1. Wide of court room
2. Close of judge opening trial
3. Tracking view of Umar Patek entering court room and sitting down
4. Reverse of Patek
5. Wide of prosecutors
6. Close of court documents
7. Reverse of Patek answering Judge's questions
8. SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) Umar Patek. Terror Suspect:
"From the bottom of my heart I apologise to the victims and their family and also to the victims who were injured and having permanently disabled (because of the bomb) and also to all Balinese people."
9. Prosecutors taking notes.
10. SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) Umar Patek, terror suspect:
"From my point of view the Bali bombing was not successful. Why I say it wasn't successful? Because since the beginning Muklas and Imam Samudra told me that the mission was a revenge for all the muslim deaths in Palestine, but what is the connection between the Bali bombing and Palestine? There is no connection. Those who were killed (in Bali) even if they were foreigners, they did not have anything to do with what happened in Palestine. So the mission was very far from successful, it was a total failure and in fact, the way they did it is not right in Islamic teaching."
11. Cutaway security guard
12. Wide of Patek shaking hands with judges
13. Cutaway cameraman
14. SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian) Umar Patek, terror suspect:
"I was guilty to have been involved in what happened (the bombings) that caused so many deaths. I apologise to the victims and their family, other victims who have suffered physically and economically, Indonesians as well as foreigners. I truly apologise to all of them, I hope this could make amends for all my mistakes and sins and I hope they can find in their heart to forgive me."
15. Exterior of West Jakarta court
STORYLINE:
The terror suspect accused of building bombs used in the 2002 Bali nightclub attacks apologised for the first time on Monday to the victims and their families.
Umar Patek, a leading member of the al-Qaida-linked network Jemaah Islamiyah, was emotional as he told a court in the capital, Jakarta, that he'd been against the bombings that killed 202 people from the start.
He said he had been afraid, however, to challenge more senior members of the group.
Indonesia was thrust onto the front lines in the battle against terrorism after the 12 October, 2002 suicide bombings on two nightclubs, packed with foreign tourists on the busiest night of the week.
Eighty-eight of the victims were Australian. Seven were Americans.
There have been several attacks targeting Western hotels, restaurants and an embassy since then. But all have been far less deadly, thanks in part, security experts say, to a relentless crackdown that has largely decimated their ranks.
Patek, who was arrested in Pakistan just over a year ago, told the court the Bali bombings were in theory meant to avenge Western policies in Palestine.
"From my point of view, it was total failure," the suspect told the court, adding he saw "no connection" between the original mission, fighting against the oppression of fellow Muslims in Palestine, and the target, partying tourists.
Patek faces a maximum penalty of death by firing squad if found guilty of terror-related and criminal charges.
He insists he didn't play a major role in assembling the massive car bomb, saying that job fell to JI bomb-making masterminds, Azahari bin Husin and Dulmatin, both of whom have since been killed in police raids.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...