VOA标准英语10月-Court Rules Bali Bombers Can Be Executed by Firin

Indonesia's constitutional court has ruled the three men convicted in the 2002 Bali bombings and sentenced to death may be executed by firing squad¹, quashing their claim it is inhumane and against the constitution. VOA correspondent Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.

The constitutional court also dismissed a request by the Bali bombers³ to be beheaded instead of shot, which their lawyers argue is a more humane² method of execution.
　

Bali Bombers from left, Imam Samudra, Ali Gufron and Amrozi Nurhasyim (2007 File)

The three bombers: Amrozi Nurhasyim, Ali Gufron, and Imam Samudra, have been sentenced to death for the 2002 Bali bombings that claimed the lives of 202 people, many of them foreign tourists.

Presiding judge Mohammad Mahfud says the pain generated by a firing squad is a natural part of the execution process and not torture, as claimed by the bombers' lawyers.

He says there is no justification⁴ for the request and that the court has rejected it.

The three bombers, who are part of the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, have exhausted⁵ all appeals and are expected to be executed soon.

In an unusual announcement, the attorney general said he will give more details about the timing⁶ of the executions, this Friday.

Indonesia carries out executions by firing squad, usually late at night and without giving prior notice to the public.

A lawyer for the bombers, Wirawan Adnan, says he will respect the court's decision.

"We have to respect the decision. This is because this is a highly respected court and we have to respect the decision," Wirawan said. "We do have our disappointment. But, with that being said, we still respect the constitution and again this is our petition for the constitution, not necessarily for Amrozi, it's for the interest of the constitution."

The three Bali bombers vow⁷ their followers⁸ will avenge⁹ their execution, but most terrorist experts agree Jemaah Islamiyah is no longer capable of launching major terrorist attacks.

Also on Tuesday, police raided a house in Jakarta seizing weapons and bomb-making materials from the site, but did not give further details.

1 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

2 humane   

adj.人道的，富有同情心的

参考例句：

• Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗？
• Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。

3 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

5 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

6 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

7 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

8 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

9 avenge   

v.为...复仇，为...报仇

参考例句：

• He swore to avenge himself on the mafia.他发誓说要向黑手党报仇。
• He will avenge the people on their oppressor.他将为人民向压迫者报仇。