Renee Nowytarger recounts her experiences photographing the aftermath of the Bali bombing.
Never forgotten ... the Angel of Byron Bay (left) became an iconic image after the 2002 bombings. Source: Supplied
- 92 Australians were killed in the 2002 and 2005 attacks
- All 36 terrorists who were not sentenced to life are now free
- Five men form the two attacks remain behind bars
- Up to 100 more terrorist could be free by next year
FOR the survivors of the Bali bomb attacks it is a terrifying tally, but for the families of the 92 Australians killed it is simply heartbreaking.
All 36 Indonesian terrorists who were sentenced to anything less than life for their parts in the 2002 and 2005 bar and restaurant attacks, which killed a further 130 victims, are now free.
And up to 100 more terrorists convicted for other attacks on local and western interests in Indonesia will be freed in the coming year, according to a leading expert.
Only five men from the two Bali attacks remain behind bars on life sentences. Indonesia's Justice and Human Rights Ministry said they were not entitled to remission or clemency.
Devastating attack ... a photo of firemen attempting to extinguish the blaze ignited by the bomb blast at the Sari nightclub on Kuta Beach. Source: AP
Close to 50 people, most of them members of hate group Jemaah Islamiyah, were involved in planning and executing the 2002 Bali attacks. Most served sentences ranging six years or less to 18 years.
They include the men who recruited the suicide bombers, drove bomb-laden vehicles or built suicide bomb vests, to plotters, financiers and others who sheltered the world's most-wanted terrorists.
Those now free include Abdul Rauf, who was sentenced to 16 years for recruiting the 2002 Bali suicide bombers, and Mohammad Cholily, who assembled the three suicide bomb vests used in 2005.
Badly injured ... one of the injured victims from the Kuta bombings is wheeled into the Royal Darwin Hospital after being airlifted from Bali. Source: News Corp Australia
Cholily was released last year after having 11 years cut from his 18-year sentence.
At his trial in 2006, Cholily expressed regret that he had been forced to reveal the location of bomb expert Dr Azahari bin Husin, who advised on how to make the 2002 and 2005 bombs, and was gunned down by police in 2005.
"I feel guilty, because my words caused the death of a man," said Cholily, referring to terrorist Azahari rather than the 20 people, including four Australians, who were killed died in 2005. Masykur Abdul Kadir, who helped the bombers rent a house in Bali and drove them around surveying targets, was released in 2010 after serving seven years of his 15-year sentence.
Anif Solchanudin, who sheltered terror mastermind Noordin M Top and helped plan the 2005 attacks, was released in July last year after also serving only seven years of his 15 years.
"It's an emotional thing to hear," said Phil Britten, who was inside the Sari Club with mates from Perth's Kingsley Football Club when the bomb exploded. Britten lost his front teeth, 60 per cent of his skin to burns, and a lot of friends.
"It definitely sucks when someone who was involved in killing people, including seven of my friends, and injuring me so badly, is out there.
"They are all to blame. So many people who were involved in Bali are still feeling it now.
"I know dads who have lost their sons. We've still got the memories and pain of what was. Yet these guys can get on with their lives.
"They're probably still happy with what happened."
Searching for answers ... forensic analysis during the search through debris at the site of bombings in Kuta. Source: News Corp Australia
Zulkarnaen, aged 50, remains the only major player unaccounted for over Bali 2002. The US Department of State accuses Zulkarnaen of a senior role in the 2003 Marriott bombing, that killed 12 people, and of helping make the 2002 Bali bombs.
Considered to be the highest-ranking South-East Asian member of JI after Hambali, and having direct lines to al Qaeda, the only image of Zulkarnaen is a faded black and white headshot.
There is a $5 million reward for Hambali's capture.
Most of those involved in the Marriott hotel bombing, in which Australians were targeted but not killed, have also been freed.
Two men who served short sentences over the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta were also freed and reportedly returned to terrorism.
Jakarta-based terror expert Solahudin said more terrorists who were involved in a range of strikes against Indonesian and western interests would be freed in coming months after serving relatively short sentences.
"In my assessment maybe this year and next year about 50 to 100 will be released," said Solahudin, who goes by the single name.
"Some of them are quite senior figures. We should be reaconcerned."
Two people who escaped by jumping from a window after the car bomb attack in a night-club in Bali, Indonesia on December 12, 2002. Picture: Getty Source: News Limited
He said that although terror strikes had increased in the last four years in Indonesia, most had been ineffective because most Indonesian jihadists were currently fighting in Syria.
Indonesia's counterterrorism squad, Densus 88, funded by the US and Australia in the aftermath of 2002, has gunned down up to 80 terrorists since 2003 and has made more than 800 arrests.
Peter Lalor recalls the harrowing experience of covering the 2002 Bali bombings.
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