[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Oct. 29



INDONESIA:

Firing squad's target practice before execution of Bali bombers

With their high powered rifles and cardboard targets, a firing squad
test(ed) their aim, providing an insight into the imminent execution of 3
condemned Bali bombers.

The crack police officers are among a squad who will travel from their
base in Semarang, Central Java, within days to aim their weapons at the
convicted killers, who will be shot through the heart. The firing squad
were photographed during target practice yesterday and while up to 8 men
will be in the team, not all will have live rounds in their rifles.

This is to ensure that no-one will know who fired the fatal shots, so they
will leave the place of execution - a jungle clearing - with clear
consciences.

As the countdown begins for the executions of the bombers, the condemned
men have warned Britons not to visit Bali - or face the consequences.

Security forces in Indonesia have already voiced their concerns about
revenge attacks on Westerners in the wake of the imminent executions but
now the bombers themselves have issued a chilling warning to tourists.

One of the convicted men, Imam Samudra, told a U.S. interviewer in his
condemned cell on an island off the coast of Java that Britain, America
and Australia were already responsible for the deaths of his people.

Referring to the Koran, Samudra said: 'The verse, blood by blood, soul by
soul. Your country - U.S., UK, Australia alliance - already killing my
people.'

Samudra is due to be shot along with 'Smiling Assassin' Amrozi and Mukhlas
early in November. They could see them dragged from their cells as early
as Saturday, taken to a secluded place at night, and tied to stakes.

A black cross will be pinned to their chests over their hearts, spotlights
will be aimed at them and a firing squad will put them to death.

In what is expected to the last of several interviews the men convicted of
killing 202 people - including 30 Britons - in the 2002 Bali bombings have
given in recent months, they have issued a warning for Westerners not to
visit the island because their supporters will strike again.

During the interview Amrozi was shown pictures of the devastation he and
his killer colleagues brought to 2 crowded night clubs they targeted.

Asked what he thought when looking at the photos, he said: 'What do I
think? Thank God!' He added that he had no regrets whatsoever and he
warned tourists not to go to Bali because 'I'm sure that my colleagues
will bomb it again.'

Samudra was asked whether he had twisted the words of the Koran to justify
the bloodshed but he told he told the US interviewer: 'I know better than
you because I am Muslim and you are kaffir (infidel). You kaffir know
nothing.'

In a frightening new development it has been revealed that the condemned
trio has urged a religious war in a letter addressed to all Muslims.

They said that if Allah destined them to die from the bullets of police
'it would be a savage action.'

'To all Islamic people, especially Mujahadin (holy warriors), wherever
they are, it is your obligation to claim war and kill the persons involved
in the execution like (Indonesian President) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.'

Fears of reprisals over the imminent executions have resulted in police
and soldiers stepping up security in major Indonesian cities and at
resorts popular with Western tourists.

However, the threat appears to have made little impression on many
tourists. Hotels in Bali said yesterday they had 'good bookings' from
Britons, Americans, Australians and Europeans for the coming weeks.

(source: Daily Mail)






PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY:

Gaza court upholds death sentence in rape, murder case


Gaza's highest court has upheld a death sentence for 4 men charged with a
brutal rape and murder that shocked even residents of the violence-weary
territory.

Wednesday's ruling by Justice Abdul Raouf Halaby comes in response to an
appeal by 4 men convicted of the 2004 rape and murder of a 16-year-old
schoolgirl.

It is rare for rape charges to become public in Gaza, where the largely
tribal residents tend to prefer vigilante justice in such cases. At the
time, thousands of Gaza residents demonstrated to demand the men be
executed.

The convicts' last hope is Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas,
who must approve the sentence even though his government in the West Bank
has no real power in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Abbas has not signed off on an execution since he came to power.

(source: Associated Press)