Fed: Australians reaction to Amrozi penalty 'heart felt', Howard

00-00-0000
Fed: Australians reaction to Amrozi penalty 'heart felt', Howard

MELBOURNE, Aug 8 AAP - Australians were reacting in a "heart-felt" way to the deathsentence handed down to Bali bomber Amrozi, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Mr Howard said the Australian public was not "consumed by revenge", and rejected suggestionsthat the Bali bombing survivors and the families of victims were "dancing in the streets"

after the verdict.

"I don't feel a sense of jubilation about this, and I don't think people do," Mr Howardtold radio station 3AW.

"But if you've lost somebody, the emotional release of at least thinking that thereis some sense of justice is being served."

Mr Howard said the reaction of families and survivors to the death penalty reflecteddivisions in the community about the issue.

"They are behaving in an understandable, normal Australian way," he said.

"These people lost their kids. I've met a lot of these people ... I remember how theyfelt, I just try to put myself in their situation.

"I don't think the Australian public were consumed by revenge," he said.

"I think the Australian public has reacted to this tragedy in a mature heart-felt way."

Mr Howard said the death sentence was likely to have a "neutral" impact on future terroristthreats.

"The more that you communicate a capacity to apprehend, try and convict people involvedin terrorism, the greater is the warning given to the terrorists," he said.

"I think the death penalty will have a different impact on different people, and thereforeit will be probably neutral."

Mr Howard rejected claims that sentencing Amrozi to death would make him a martyr.

"In the long run, people who decide to embark upon terrorism have already embarkedupon a fanatical mode of behaviour, and I don't know that the execution or the sentencingto life of somebody like that is going to alter the original sin," he said.

Mr Howard said terrorism was likely to be a threat for a long time, but that the fightagainst it had already begun.

He said the fight would involve a greater emphasis on intelligence gathering and cooperationbetween the agencies of different countries, and dealing with conditions that could beexploited by terrorists.

"I do believe that one of the most positive things that (has) come out of the Iraqwar (has) been a renewed push for a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians," hesaid.

"If that settlement can be achieved, that will remove an argument that the terrorists have used."

Mr Howard said the security alert in Australia had not been increased because of theBali bombing and this week's bombing in Jakarta.

He said the alert would be increased only if there was specific intelligence or advicesuggesting a need to do so, and that was not warranted at this stage.

AAP svm/ce/gfr/ak/de

KEYWORD: BALI TRIAL HOWARD