Riduan Isomudin Hambali: Aussie witnesses to Bali bombings sought for trial of ‘South East Asia’s Bin Laden’

Australian witnesses of the 2002 Bali bombings are being sought to give evidence in the Guantanamo Bay trial of alleged mastermind Hambali, as one survivor in Perth says he expects people will be “lining up” to testify. Australian Federal Police on Wednesday announced they were taking opt-in registrations of interest from survivors and bereaved relatives of victims to be kept updated on progress of proceedings, which began on August 31 with the arraignment of the man once labelled by the CIA the “Bin Laden of South-East Asia”. Riduan Isomudin Hambali, also known as Encep Nurjman, is also going to be tried for the 2003 JW Marriott Jakarta bombing, which killed 12 people. Hambali is accused of being the orchestrator of both bombings - as the alleged operational commander of al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah - and was arrested by Thai and US authorities in Thailand in 2003. The 58-year-old has been detained at the US naval base in Cuba ever since. The AFP said the US Military Tribunal trial of Hambali and two co-offenders was expected to continue in 2023 and 2024, but dates were difficult to predict given the complexity of the case. Antony Svilicich of Coogee, who was in an induced coma for 44 days after being buried alive under the ruins of the Sari Club, said he expected many Australians would want to take part. “I think there will certainly be people willing to testify against him,” Mr Svilicich told The West Australian. “I think they’ll be lining up, to be honest.” He said he “absolutely” would be a witness if given the opportunity. “The less terrorists we have on the streets, the better,” Mr Svilicich said. “If they need me to go over there, I’ll be the first on the plane.” Mr Svilicich suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body in the Kuta blasts, which killed 88 Australians. He now works as a health and safety adviser for the City of Melville, and recently released a book about his harrowing experience called Phoenix Rising, which describes his rehabilitation, both physical and psychological. He hopes it will provide inspiration to anyone suffering trauma, especially burns. Mr Svilicich has twice returned to Bali - for the 10th anniversary and in 2018 for a counter-terrorism summit - and says he was horrified to hear a graphic video of the atrocity was shown at this year’s 20th anniversary service in Kuta, re-traumatising survivors and greatly distressing relatives of victims. The US Department of Defense Office of Military Commissions has advised the AFP that Australian survivors and next of kin may be able to attend the tribunal hearing in Guantanamo Bay or view live-stream proceedings from a dedicated US location.