'I will not flee and satisfy these animals'<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
Forensics experts spent Monday sifting through the chaos of
\nburned out vehicles and wrecked buildings for evidence in what
\nwas once the lively Legian strip in Kuta catering to mainly an
\nexpatriate crowd, following a massive explosion believed to be a
\ncar bomb that ripped through the area.<\/p>\n
And it appears by the casualty lists -- the death toll now
\ntopping 190 -- that expatriates were indeed the target of this
\nterrorist attack that is being billed as the worst in Indonesian
\nhistory.<\/p>\n
Another explosion close to the honorary U.S. consulate at
\napproximately the same time appeared to be unrelated given its
\nsize, placement and lack of any casualties, fueling further
\nspeculation as to the origins of the explosions.<\/p>\n
Journalists and civilians alike were turned away from the
\nsealed four-block area surrounding Legian beginning around
\nmidnight Sunday, supposedly in order to preserve evidence at the
\nscene even though this explanation ran contrary to the lack of
\nsecurity the previous day when people tramped through the area
\nunopposed.<\/p>\n
Bystanders and locals bore mute testimony to the sense of
\nshock that still pervaded those having witnessed the carnage that
\nhad taken place here, and its aftermath.<\/p>\n
Yet out of the wreckage of charred roof tiles and shattered
\nglass there emerged a distinct air of defiance among surviving
\nexpatriates, many of whom have elected to stay on in an effort to
\nobtain answers and comfort the survivors.<\/p>\n
\"If I leave, then the terrorists win,\" said Benjamin from
\nEurope. \"There is no way I am going to give these animals the
\nsatisfaction of watching me flee in terror.\"<\/p>\n
He went on to say that just as the tragedy at the World Trade
\nCenter in 2001 united Americans, this act of cowardice will unite
\nthe free peoples of the world as it cut across national and
\nsocial barriers.<\/p>\n
Australian Robbie Bass, who was caught near the epicenter of
\nthe blast, displayed a similar attitude.<\/p>\n
\"The first explosion occurred in Paddy's, this was the small
\nbomb and a few seconds later there was a much larger explosion in
\nthe Sari Club which blew the place to smithereens,\" Bass said.<\/p>\n
\"I was about 75 yards from the Sari at the time and was lifted
\nup and blown backwards at least 15 feet and there was a massive
\nfireball. Afterwards there was mass panic, people screaming and
\nrunning and bodies everywhere. It looked like a war zone and I'm
\nvery lucky to be standing here now,\" he said, adding that this is
\nthe first time he had ever seen and experienced anything like
\nthis.<\/p>\n
Bass then became angry. \"This act of terrorism should make
\neveryone unite and stick together, helping themselves and helping
\nto support the people of Bali and the economy. This was a
\nterrorist act, a crazy act and in Bali we call these people gila
\nsekali, very crazy people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Speculation as to the origin of the explosion is rife among
\nthe survivors, ranging from outside terrorist groups to military
\nconspiracies.<\/p>\n
Civilian and military authorities have remained silent,
\nrefusing comment.<\/p>\n
At midday Akbar Tandjung made a whirlwind tour of the blast
\nsite accompanied by a large entourage, vowing to eliminate
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
As mourners continued to pour into the area bearing flowers,
\nthey seemed to bring with them a faint sense of hope along with
\nthe resplendent colors that speak so much of this island that had
\nbeen before last Saturday a haven from terrorist attacks that
\nhave plagued the region in the past.<\/p>\n
An Australian expatriate who wished to remain anonymous summed
\nall this up. \"Bali is paradise. No act of terror will ever change
\nthat.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-will-not-flee-and-satisfy-these-animals-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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