- Title: INDONESIA: Executed Bali bombers writings sold in select book stores in Jakarta
- Date: 17th March 2009
- Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (MARCH 14, 2009) (REUTERS) BOOK STORE AT A MARKET IN JAKARTA BOOKS PUT ON DISPLAY TRILOGY BOOKS OF BALI BOMBERS HILMAN OFFERING BOOK TO PASSERS-BY (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) BOOK SELLER, HILMAN, SAYING: "I don't have a lot of these books in stock. They're very limited as it is difficult to get hold of them." JAKARTA, INDONESIA (MARCH 15, 2009) (RE
- Embargoed: 1st April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Indonesia
- Country: Indonesia
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVAEKI0SMQZSBC7FBCKWKB6BC5FP
- Story Text: The personal writings by each of the three executed Bali bombers has been compiled into a trilogy and is being sold quietly in small book shops and stalls in the capital, Jakarta.
Terrorism experts said the books were due out last year but were delayed after intervention by Indonesian authorities.
The three books, entitled "Martyrs' Trilogy," contain writings and autobiographical notes by the Bali bombers trio - Amrozi, Mukhlas or Ali Gufron, and Imam Samudra.
The trio were executed by firing squad last November for the October 12, 2002 resort island bombings which killed 202 people.
Hilman, a book seller, said that the demand for the books was high as it was quite difficult to get them.
"I don't have a lot of these books in stock. They're very limited as it is difficult to get hold of them," Hilman, who like most Indonesians has only one name, told Reuters Television in front of his shop.
The first book of the trilogy contains Imam Samudra's writings and notes explaining the moral justification for the Bali bombing while the second is based on the autobiography of Amrozi, better known as the smiling bomber.
The last book of the trilogy contains the memoirs of Amrozi's older brother Ali Gufron.
Although the books were difficult to find, some Indonesians have shown interest and have scoured the Indonesian capital to buy the books.
"I've read this. I just wanted to know what this was about. I think our people are not stupid. They know what is right and what is wrong," local resident Sukamto said while reading one of the books at a Jakarta park.
Despite the government's effort to squelch the publication, prayer-bead seller Anom expressed interest to read the bombers' memoirs.
"I think this is good. I hope after reading these books Indonesians will be aware that what they (the bombers) have chosen, Jihad, is wrong," said Anom while tending to his business outside a mosque.
Most of those interested in the trilogy were Muslims who said the books meant nothing to their faith.
"I think this book won't have a bad influence on our people. With or without this book, or Imam Samudra, we already know the right and the wrong way," Jakarta resident Zulkarnaen told Reuters.
The international community has previously criticized Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, for not doing enough to stop the publication of radical militant ideology.
The bombings in Bali and other attacks that have hit Indonesia in recent years have been blamed on the Southeast Asian Islamic militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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