An Australian woman whose husband was killed in the 2002 Bali bombings wants the Indonesian government to execute those responsible as soon as possible.
Natalie Grezl Juniardi, who was three months pregnant with her second child when the attack killed her Balinese husband John, said the constant delays were frustrating.
“It was six years ago and we’re still waiting,” for the bombers to be executed, she said after attending a memorial service in Bali to mark the sixth anniversary of the attack.
“I just feel that they (the government) need to do it as soon as possible. They keep talking about it, talking about it and talking about it and nothing is being done. So, how is anyone going to believe what they say if they don’t go ahead with it?”
Indonesia halted its plans to execute the three main players in the attacks, Islamic extremists Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Mukhlas, out of respect for the holy Islamic fasting month in September, but is expected to resume preparations.
The trio have exhausted all legal options, although their lawyers launched a side challenge to Indonesia’s Constitutional Court arguing that execution by firing squad amounts to torture as they may not die straight away.
Juniardi said the trio should not have any say in their method of execution.
“There’s some families who don’t want them to die, they don’t agree with it. But I don’t think it’s torture. I just think they need to go.
“They shouldn’t have a choice in how they’re executed. Whatever is in the law, that’s how they should be executed.”
In Indonesia, the death penalty is administered by firing squad, with most guns loaded with blanks to prevent the shooters from knowing who shot the fatal bullet.
Juniardi, who continues to run her husband’s surfboard business, today read out a prayer during a memorial service at the Australian Consulate in Bali.
The ceremony was attended by other Australian relatives of victims, survivors, volunteers and government officials.
The dual bombing in Kuta Beach on October 12, 2002, killed 2002 people, 88 of them Australian.
AAP
