Australia says Bali bomb maker's release will be 'difficult day for many'

Umar Patek, Indonesian militant, walks after reading his final defense at the West Jakarta court on May 31, 2012. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday that Indonesia's release of convicted Bali bomb maker Umar Patek will be a difficult day for Australians who lost loved ones and relatives in the attacks.

Patek was released on parole late on Wednesday, the same day a suicide bomber who was jailed on terrorism charges attacked a police station in Indonesia's West Java province, killing himself and one officer.

In 2012, Patek was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in bombings that ripped through two Bali nightclubs, killing 202 people, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians.

This is going to be a very difficult day for many Australians to hear about the release of Umar Patek, Marles told ABC radio. I'm thinking about the families of those killed and injured in the Bali bombings right now. The Australian government had made repeated representations to the Indonesian government about Patek's early release, and would continue to engage Indonesian authorities about the matter, Marles said.

Patek, a member of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah militant group, became eligible for parole in August because of good behavior in prison. His scheduled release was delayed due to uproar from Australia.

Patek will have to participate in a mentoring program until April 2030, and could see his parole revoked, Indonesia's justice ministry said in a statement.

Australian climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen told ABC Television on Thursday that Patek's release was a concern for all Australians but was unlikely to affect the bilateral relationship.

READ MORE: Indonesian militant expresses regret for role in Bali bombing in 2002

He said that it is important that Australia maintains strong dialogue with Indonesia so that we can have those discussions, and that is exactly what we will do.