Fed: Senators and MPs divided on Amrozi death sentence

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Fed: Senators and MPs divided on Amrozi death sentence

Eds: Updates with Amrozi appeal

By Rod McGuirk

CANBERRA, Aug 8 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard today stood by his decision to condonethe execution of Bali bomber Amrozi despite federal MPs' warnings that it will damageAustralian interests.

Amrozi has authorised his lawyers to appeal the death sentence, which he had welcomedwith a thumbs-up gesture when delivered by a Denpasar court yesterday.

Mr Howard said opposing the sentence would offend many friends and relatives of the88 Australians killed in the Bali blasts last year and create confusion about bilateralcooperation on terrorism.

"I'm not going to do that (oppose execution) because I do respect the judicial processesof Indonesia," Mr Howard told Radio 3AW.

"I also believe that for me to do that would offend many Australians who lost people,who legitimately feel, as decent Australians, that the death penalty is appropriate."

Bali victims and their families are divided on whether death or life imprisonment wouldbe the best punishment for Amrozi.

But non-government senators and MPs today voiced concerns about the verdict's bipartisansupport from Mr Howard and Opposition Leader Simon Crean.

Labor backbencher Duncan Kerr, a former justice minister, declared both Mr Howard andMr Crean were mistaken.

"Australia has always had a consistent opposition to the death penalty and I thinkour failure to take that position in this instance will be thrown back in our face," hesaid.

"You can't turn principled opposition off and on."

Opposition frontbencher Daryl Melham echoed Mr Kerr's concerns but was not preparedto criticise either leader.

"Our position for the last 30 years has been consistent and honourable and it's a positionthat I'm comfortable with," he said.

"I'm not comfortable with departure from that."

Amnesty International's parliamentary chairman, Liberal backbencher Bruce Baird, saidAmrozi's execution would be good for Indonesia's domestic politics.

Mr Baird, whose Sydney electorate includes the families of five Bali victims, disagreedwith Mr Kerr on the value of consistency on capital punishment.

"I personally think there is a case when some atrocity is just so outrageous that yousay: fair enough - so I think you can be a bit selective," Mr Baird said.

Mr Baird denied his view conflicted with Amnesty, which opposes the death penalty for anyone.

"Two hundred and two people were killed courtesy of Mr Amrozi and I see there is noconflict in being a member of Amnesty and saying `bring it on' as far as Mr Amrozi isconcerned," he said.

Australian Democrats Leader Andrew Bartlett called for Australia to make an unequivocalstatement against the death penalty and described the execution of Amrozi as a barbaricact.

Mr Crean denied any double standard in his opposition to the death penalty and refusalto object to Amrozi's execution.

"There's only one standard here and that is the standard that says terrorism can'tbe tolerated," Mr Crean told Radio 5DN.

Opposition frontbencher Mark Latham urged Australians to respect Indonesia's rightenforce its justice system.

"If this evil little bastard thinks that after he's put to the death sentence he'sgoing to be off in some paradise in the sky, I think he's even sillier than he looks,"

Mr Latham told reporters.

Independent Senator Brian Harradine said Amrozi's execution would continue the cycleof violence by making the terrorist a martyr.

One Nation Senator Len Harris said Indonesia was incorrect to condemn Amrozi to deathunder a retrospective law.

AAP rmg/was

KEYWORD: BALI TRIAL AUST SECOND NIGHTLEAD