In the Field: Hear from CNN reporters across the globe Blog Archive - Face-to-face with the Bali bombers «

October 25, 2008

Posted: 551 GMT

I recently had the extraordinary opportunity to sit down face-to-face with three of the Bali bombers and ask them anything I liked. Since our interview, the Indonesian government has announced that their execution will take place at the beginning of November.

I have already had a lot of feedback, both positive and negative, about the interviews. A colleague who knew some of those killed in the attack felt the families would have been pleased that finally someone challenged the bombers' rationale and twisted logic. Some of the families of victims we interviewed also said they were pleased that at least someone had asked the questions they'd never had the chance to pose.

But you can't please all of the people all of the time. One viewer e-mailed me describing the interviews as irresponsible and sensationalist. I thought long and hard about whether we should be giving these men any publicity and I certainly understand those who think they should not be given the opportunity to speak. But on reflection, I honestly believe we have a duty to confront these men and counter their ideology - not least on behalf of the vast majority of Muslims who feel their religion has been hijacked by extremists.

For me one survivor, Chusnul Chotimah, summed it up. She received 60 percent burns on her body from the bomb these men planted. She's an Indonesian Muslim and says it is the bombers, not the Westerners they targeted, who are the infidels. She is incredibly grateful that we were able to show them for what they really are - they are not Islamic terrorists, they are simply criminals who have forfeited their right to call themselves Muslims.

Posted by: CNN Correspondent, Dan Rivers
Filed under: Indonesia

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Abiy

October 28th, 2008 1943 GMT

I thought what u did waz very extraodinary. U sat down with them and question if not attack their reasons/essence/ideology of what they did. People like these have no conscious,nothng but their screwd up IDEOLOGY. That is wat helps them sleep at night. The feeling that what they did iz not only WRIGHT, ITS THEIR GOD GIVEN RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY. Hence they need to know that they are "right" and the rest of the world iz full of infidels who should be killed. Just killin these people will not this issue. As i was watchin your report i couldnt help but notice the shear admiration in the face of the fellow prisoners and even guards. Then i just thought to myself, in two months these two men will be dead but their ideology will still be alive to inspire the next generation of suicide bombers, sad isnt it? With the U.S "war on terror" faning and encouraging extreme radicalization of young minds by their ILLEGEL,UNDEMOCRATIC,MURDEROUS,STUPID,HYPOCRITICAL,NARCISSISTIC,TORTUROUS,INHUMANE,SADISTIC(believe me the list is endless) actions and policies, i fear we havent seen the end of these people and as a muslim i am terrified that my children will have to navigate through all these extreme Vs moderate beliefs just to be a muslim. And the US is not making it easier.

darshan dhoju

October 30th, 2008 1418 GMT

Saw your encounter with these heartless, brainless bastards. "Kill em all" but the problem remains in their rotteon ideology where killing is religion. Hoping for the days for their brain wash.

BABA NE'GAH

November 3rd, 2008 1258 GMT

IT'S AMAZING HOW NAIVE AMERICANS ARE, YOU SEE AMERIKANS WILL BELIEVE IN SOMETHING ENUFF TO RISK THEIR LIVES, BUT WHEN THEY RUN INTO A PEOPLE THAT BELIVE IN SOMETHING ENUFF TO DIE FOR, THEY ARE PUZZLED. THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT WHEN THE JAPANESE DID IT. AND NOW THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS KIND OF COMMITTMENT COMING FROM THE ISLAMIST. IT IS TRULY SAD TO SEE SOMEONE SO HAPPY ABOUT TAKING LIFE, BUT NOW YOU MUST KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE TO THESE PEOPLE IN YOUR NAME, IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM HATE US SO. WHEN YOU DROP A 3000 POUND SMART BOMB ON A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KILL PEOPLE, AND BABIES AND CHILDREN AND GRANDMOTHERS AND MOTHERS. THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF TERRORISM, CAUSE, I'M NOT AFRAID OF TERRRORISM,
ALTHOUGH I CERTAINLY USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, BACK WHEN ALL THE TERRORIST WERE WEARING WHITE HOODS, AND CHASING AFTER ME.............................

Bali HI

November 5th, 2008 2202 GMT

Just tell me when these murderous, uneducated thugs are cold and in the morgue...

other than that....I care not about them...or those who worship them and their ilk.

American and proud...with a new president named BarraK!

bazthebarrel

November 8th, 2008 237 GMT

the sooner they have been shot in the heart the better for me as an australian and a person who lost a lot of my friends in that disgusting act of TERRORISM...When theyannounce their deaths is when I party and celebrate their quick road to hell,where they will burn for an eternity,scumbags.the word HATE isn't enough for these cockroaches...bazthebarrel.

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