Peter is dead<\/p>\n
Peter lay in a coma for a week. First in Denpasar, in Bali
\nPublic Hospital's intensive care unit for three days until his
\nfriend found him, provided an identity and had him flown to
\nSingapore's state-of-the-art medical facilities.<\/p>\n
Peter's mother and father came quickly from England but Peter
\nnever saw them. On Sunday, Feb. 16 -- seven days after he arrived
\nin Bali to spend a two-week holiday -- he was already brain dead.
\nHis distraught parents accepted their only son's fate and the
\nrespirator, which was the only thing keeping him alive, was
\nswitched off. His Bali holiday and his life were over.<\/p>\n
Peter was a student from the south of England. He was 20 years
\nold. It was his first visit to Bali and before he slept his first
\nnight on the island he did something local residents of boom-time
\nKuta and Legian haven't done themselves at night for years. He
\nwent for a walk. His last. Police found him unconscious on Monday
\n(Feb. 10) morning in front of one of Kuta's primary schools,
\ndeserted for the school holidays.<\/p>\n
Peter had been struck at the base of the skull with a heavy
\ninstrument, police assume a metal bar.<\/p>\n
Knowing Kuta as the locals do -- but not the naive first-time
\nvisitors -- there is no need to speculate on the motive behind
\nthe murder, which it now is, since the area attracts predators
\nfrom across the archipelago. Predators who feed off the tourists.
\nAnd Peter -- like many other unsuspecting innocents -- fell
\nvictim to one of them, disappointed no doubt because Peter's
\npockets were empty. He wasn't even carrying the key to his
\nupmarket hotel room where his traveling companion waited in vain
\nfor his return.<\/p>\n
Even though police knew where he was, because they carried the
\nunconscious youth to hospital, it took three days for his friend
\nto find him. He was sinking deeper into coma and suffering from a
\nmassive chest infection and collapsed kidneys and being kept
\nalive with the device that breathed for him.<\/p>\n
The grief Peter's family and friends must now endure for the
\nrest of their lives can only be imagined by those few who share
\nsuch an experience. Grief and pain which will intensify every
\ntime they hear the word Indonesia or see an advertisement
\nextolling Bali as the last paradise on earth. And it makes one
\nwonder how long this ugly side effect of tourism is allowed to
\ncontinue.<\/p>\n
When fresh-faced British students like Peter are murdered on
\nBali streets it might be time for some responsible action before
\nthe dream is over for everyone. Tourism is a game. Admittedly a
\nsad, often tawdry, foolish and expensive one. It can also be fun.
\nBut when one pays with young life the allure fades.<\/p>\n
It is not the Balinese way to cause pain and horror,
\nespecially to strangers. Rather the opposite, which is why so
\nmany people come here at the economic benefits of the famed
\nBalinese \"attitude\" are quite obvious. But is the quest for money
\nworth such anguish? I don't think so and I don't think there is a
\nsingle Balinese who will disagree.<\/p>\n
It is Galungan (a holy day), the time when Bali's Hindus
\ncelebrate the triumph of good over evil. An appropriate time to
\npray for the soul of Peter. And to pray also for Bali -- or to
\ngrieve for it.<\/p>\n
BOB HOBMAN<\/p>\n
Padangbai, Bali<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/peter-is-dead-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }