Savage Muslim Terrorist Caged By Courageous Muslim Nation

Indonesian court sentences Abu Dujana to 15 years in prison

Dujana is the alleged leader of the military wing of Jemaah Islamiyah

Dujana is accused of direct involvement in the Bali nightclub bombings

of 2002

After his arrest last June, Dujana admitted he was Jemaah Islamiyah's

military chief

--------

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- An Indonesian court has sentenced the

alleged military commander of an al Qaeda-linked terror network to 15

years in prison.

Abu Dujana is the alleged leader of the military wing of Jemaah

Islamiyah, a group that is thought to be linked to al Qaeda. It aims

to create a Muslim "superstate" across much of Southeast Asia.

Dujana, a slight, wiry man, is accused of direct involvement in the

Bali nightclub bombings of 2002 that killed more than 200, mostly

Western, tourists. He is also suspected of plotting subsequent attacks

on the Australian Embassy and J.W. Marriott hotel, both in the

Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Furthermore, authorities say Dujana is behind the violence in Poso, on

Indonesia's eastern Sulawesi island. Fighting between Muslims and

Christians periodically breaks out in the region and sometimes turns

deadly.

Police have accused Jemaah Islamiyah of sending armed militants to

Poso.

The court found Dujana guilty Monday of illegally possessing firearms

and explosives, and of harboring suspected terrorists. His lawyers

said they may appeal the sentence.

After his arrest last June following a four-year hunt, Dujana admitted

to CNN that he was Jemaah Islamiyah's military chief. But he said that

happened only after the attacks on Western targets.

He described Jemaah Islamiyah to CNN as "an underground organization,"

saying "it will continue to exist and continue to move on with its

plans" to create an Islamic state under Sharia law despite his

capture.

"When a part of it is cut off ...there will be a replacement, it's

only natural," he said.

Dujana denied being involved in the Marriott Hotel attack. He told CNN

that he helped fugitive suspect Noordin Top plan the attack, meeting

him both before and after the devastating blast that killed 12 people

and injured 150.

"It's true, I did have a meeting with Noordin before the Marriott

bombing but that doesn't mean I was involved in the attack," he said.

"In that meeting, we're just aligning our views with each other --

there was absolutely no discussion about planning any bombing."

In his CNN interview, Dujana was quick with messages of hate, calling

all Westerners legitimate targets because of the actions of leaders

like U.S. President George W. Bush and then-British Prime Minister

Tony Blair, who he says are not giving Muslims the chance to be in

power.

Dujana studied in Pakistan and fought in Afghanistan from 1988 to

1991.

He told CNN that he met al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan

during the fight against Soviet occupation. At the time, bin Laden was

a field commander and he was an ordinary soldier, he said.

Dujana said bin Laden was well respected then and helped him and

others realize that it was permissible to kill people to defend Islam.

"I didn't read it in the Quran," he said. " It's based on the

teachings of our teachers, clerics, especially what Osama bin Laden

first said."

"Because of America's arrogance, many in the Muslim world know,

believe, it's permissible to kill American soldiers. It's halal; it's

permitted," he said.

The court declared Jemaah Islamiyah a terrorist organization Monday

and ordered it to pay 10 million rupiah ($1,088).

Around the same time Dujana was captured last June, authorities also

apprehended Jemaah Islamiyah's leader, known simply as Zarkasih. A

verdict on his case is expected soon.

Last week, two other top Jemaah Islamiyah leaders -- Dr. Agus Purwanto

and Abdur Rohim -- were brought to Indonesia following their arrest in

Malaysia.

Both are being investigated for their possible role in fomenting

violence in Poso.

Terrorism expert Sidney Jones says Abdur Rohim is believed to have

replaced Zarkasih as Jemaah Islamiyah leader.

"It is another major blow to Jemaah Islamiyah, but difficult to tell

what the impact will be," Jones told CNN via e-mail last week. "It

could embolden a more militant faction. [it] could also lead to some

serious reassessment within the organization about its future."

----------

-C-