2006年VOA标准英语-Pending Release of Accused Jemaah Islamiyah Lea

By Douglas Bakshian
Manila
10 June 2006
 
 
Militant¹ Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir
  
Abu Bakar Bashir, the accused spiritual leader of the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, is due to be released from prison soon. A top terrorism expert says his release sends the wrong message to terrorists.

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Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir is expected to be released in a few days, after completing a prison sentence for his involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed more than 200 people. 
 
Western countries view him as the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional militant network linked to the al-Qaida group, and he was convicted of being part of the conspiracy² behind the bombings on the resort island.

Southeast Asian and Western authorities also blame Jemaah Islamiyah for other terrorist strikes in the region.  Bashir denies any wrongdoing, and says Jemaah Islamiyah does not exist.
 
Bashir's prison term is almost over, and he will be released in a few days.  Rohan Gunaratna, of Singapore's Institute of Defense³ and Strategic Studies, an expert on terrorist groups in Southeast and South Asia, says Bashir's release sends the wrong message to terrorists.

"It will be a huge boost for the jihadists, because Bashir is a leader of a terrorist group that killed 250 people…  innocent people," he said.  "I think that Bashir's release will send the wrong signal to jihadists, that you can be the head of a terrorist group and you can still be free."

Gunaratna told foreign correspondents in Manila Saturday that freeing Bashir will likely prompt more terrorist actions.  He also argued that militant groups will get a political boost.

"Bashir is also the leader of the Majilis Mujahedin Indonesia, or the Mujahedin Council of Indonesia, umbrella organization of jihad groups in Indonesia," he added.  "He will mobilize them, he will politicize them.  He has the credentials⁴, because he went to prison and he suffered.  So, people will join him, people will work with him.  That is why he must stay in prison forever."

An Indonesian court last year sentenced Bashir to 30 months in jail for conspiracy in the Bali bombing.  That term was reduced because of time he spent in detention⁵ and a reduction he received on Indonesia's 60th independence anniversary in 2005.
 
Gunaratna describes Bashir as the leader of the most dangerous terrorist group in Southeast Asia, because Jemaah Islamiyah is the group closest to al-Qaida

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

5 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。