Free Patek Umar, Victim Of Bali Bombing: I've Seen He Imprisoned, It Seems That He Doesn't Deradicalize

Patek/DOK Umar ANTARA

JAKARTA - The government is unmoved. Even though Australia asked for the cancellation of the release of Umar Patek -- the Bali bomb mastermind -- the government continued its decision.

One Bali bomb survivor from Australia, Andrew Csabi, said their lives had completely changed when the incident happened. His friends died. He also had to be amputated.

There are not many victims from Australia. There were 88 people recorded dead. A total of 202 people died from 21 countries.

Umar Patek is a former member of Jamaah Islamiyah who was involved in acts of terrorism. He was hunted by Indonesia, the United States, and Australia.

In fact, the Rewards For Justice Program once offered a prize of 1 million US dollars for anyone who could provide information to make arrests.

In 2011, Umar was arrested by Pakistani security forces in Abbotabad. Subsequently, he claimed to have played a role in the 2002 Bali Bombings and Christmas Eve 2000.

The government ensures Umar Patek is no longer a threat. He has met all requirements to get parole for good behavior.

The survivors were angry. Jan Laczynski, an Australian citizen who lost five of his friends in the bombing, said he was shocked and angry with the Indonesian government's decision.

"This person (Umar Patek) gets his life back. For many of us, we will never get our lives back," he was quoted as saying by the BBC, Thursday, December 8.

"It's terrible. It's terrible. It's wrong."

Csabi, who is also an Australian, said the decision also sparked fear. "You like feeling safe - we are all like that - and now I don't feel as safe as ever."

"If they still have hateful views, then there's a good chance they could trigger another bombing."

"I've seen him in prison, I've seen him up close. He doesn't seem to be deradicalizing to me.... I don't believe it at all," said Laczynski.