JAKARTA // Alleged Islamist extremists from a group dubbed "Al Qa'eda in Aceh" went on trial today accused of plotting to kill Westerners including US aid workers and tourists.
More than 20 suspects were scheduled to answer charges including carrying out acts that caused "terror or fear", possessing illegal firearms, providing money and sanctuary to terrorists, and participating in militant training.
If convicted they could face sentences ranging from three years in jail to death.
They are the first suspects to appear in court out of more than 100 people detained after the discovery of a militant training camp in Aceh province, Sumatra, in February. Some 66 remain in custody pending trial.
The camp allegedly gathered militants from various regional groups, including some with links to Al Qa'eda, under the leadership of the Indonesian terrorist leader Dulmatin, who was killed by police in March.
They undertook religious indoctrination and military training with the intention of driving Westerners and Christians out of Aceh, prosecutors said.
The targets included American civilians and aid workers, churches, tourists and Western non-government organisations, the prosecution said in documents submitted to the court.
"If they couldn't go to Palestine they would fight Americans and their allies in Indonesia, especially Americans in Aceh," it said.
One of the suspects allegedly shot and wounded a German aid worker in Aceh last year, threw grenades at a UN office in the provincial capital and shot at the rented house of two US student teachers there.
Aceh is a deeply religious province on the northern tip of Sumatra which was hit by a devastating tsunami in 2004 and was rebuilt with international aid.
* AFP
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.