INDONESIA: Families of British victims of the Bali bombings said yesterday they plan to appeal the death sentence imposed on an Indonesian militant to prevent him becoming a "martyr" for extremists.
"This adds further fuel to fundamentalism," said Ms Susanna Miller after an Indonesian court sentenced Islamic militant Amrozi to death. Ms Miller's brother Dan was killed in the October 12th bombings.
"(Mahatma) Gandhi said an eye for an eye makes the world blind," Ms Miller said. "We want a cessation of violence. We don't need more death and martyrs."
"Amrozi has asked for a death sentence so he can become a martyr," said Ms Miller, spokeswoman for families of most of the 26 British people who died in the attacks.
Indonesian police have arrested or identified more than 30 suspects in the bombing. "We're furious with the people that did it, but clearly it is just going to make the international situation worse if we're going to have 30 martyrs," Ms Miller said.
British families would appeal through the Foreign Office in London for the death sentence to be commuted, she added.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said Britain opposed the death penalty in all circumstances, but suggested Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair's government was unlikely to intervene.
Ms Miller's brother was on a rugby tour of the resort island when the attacks took place.