Heru Andriyanto – The final witness for the prosecution in the trial of cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has corroborated earlier testimony that the paramilitary camp linked to the defendant was established to sow terror.
Chairul Huda, a legal expert from the Islamic-based Muhammadiyah University, told the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday that any armed activity targeted at the state and posing a threat to stability should be categorized as an act of terrorism.
"Terrorism is based on a certain ideology, and in the process of attaining its goals, it justifies the use of violence," he said.
"Since the enemy is the state, terrorism doesn't discriminate over its targets." Chairul said that to qualify as terrorism, the paramilitary camp in Aceh, which was raided by police in February last year, would have had to involve fugitives previously charged with terrorism or have involved organizations known to be terrorist groups.
"And if the people involved in the paramilitary training weren't part of a separatist movement, it would still be classified as terrorism," he said.
The court had earlier heard that the training activities at the camp were led by key terrorists such as the late Dulmatin and Abu Tholut.
Chairul's testimony ties in with previous witnesses' assessment that operating the camp, which was believed to be preparing for Mumbai-type assaults on key targets, constituted an act of terror.
However, Bashir, who stands accused of raising funds for the camp, denied this, insisting it was a religiously justified I'dad, or preparation for armed conflict. "The paramilitary training was the implementation of Allah's orders," Bashir said after the hearing.
He also took the opportunity to promote his upcoming book titled "Seruan Tauhid Di Bawah Ancaman Mati" ("Calls for Recognizing Allah's Oneness Under Threat of Death"), which aims to cast the paramilitary camp in a positive light.
"The book is meant to counter the ideology of the Zionists, the Jews, who are destroying Islam by killing the two most fundamental principles of Islamic governance," Bashir said.
"The first is that Muslims must uphold Islamic law in their country. If my struggle to uphold Shariah in this country is perceived as terrorism, then that perception goes against Allah's orders."
Bashir said the second principle was for all Muslims to follow the example set by the Prophet Mohammed.
Bashir's trial was adjourned until Monday, when the defense will present its first witness. The 72-year-old cleric faces multiple charges that could see receive the death sentence.