Howard vows to pressure Indonesia over terror trials

Australia's vowed yesterday to pressure Indonesia into ensuring militants convicted of the Bali bombings are punished, after an Indonesian court dropped charges against a confessed conspirator in the attack that killed scores of Australians.

Indonesian Jhoni Hendrawan, alias Idris, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for involvement in a bombing at a Jakarta hotel, but was cleared of charges of helping to plan the October 2002 attack on the resort island of Bali.

The ruling followed a decision by Indonesia's Constitutional Court last month that prohibited the retroactive application of the anti-terror law used to charge him. The law had been enacted after the Bali attacks, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians.

Tuesday's verdict raised concern that the 32 militants previously convicted over the Bali bombings could be freed on appeal.

Howard yesterday he would do all he could to ensure the militants were punished.

"We will continue to put all the legitimate pressure we can on the Indonesian government to make certain that these people remain in jail, remain punished and remain fully accountable before the law," Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) radio.

"I can promise the families of the victims that no stone will be left unturned by my government to see that these people remain behind bars."

Howard expressed concern that the convicted Bali bombers would appeal, as many of them have said they planned to.

"It doesn't automatically follow that people already in custody and already convicted of offenses can be freed as a result of the Constitutional Court decision," Howard told ABC.

Another defendants face terror charges over Bali and more are expected to be arrested in the ongoing Indonesian police investigation.

After Tuesday's ruling was announced, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer suggested Hendrawan be charged with murder.

Hendrawan imprisoned for providing the chemicals for the bomb in the J.W. Marriott Hotel blast that killed 12 people in August last year.

Prosecutors accused Hendrawan of playing a role in the Bali blasts, including attending planning meetings and helping survey the two nightclubs targeted in the attacks.

In earlier court sessions, Hendrawan admitted taking part in both attacks, which he said were aimed at America and "its henchmen who oppress Islam."

Both attacks were blamed on the al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, which allegedly has operatives throughout Southeast Asia.