Australia's national anthem to be played at Bali memorial concert

I Wayan Juniartha and Tiarma Siboro, Jimbaran, Bali

Australian national anthem Advance Australia Fair will be played during Monday's memorial concert for those killed in the Oct. 12 bomb attacks here, conductor Addie MS said on Sunday.

Addie brushed aside speculation the move would trigger a hostile reaction from the 7,000-strong audience invited to the musical performance, following nation-wide raids targeting Indonesians in Australia.

"We should not condemn the whole nation for any action committed by just a few people. I believe that we, Indonesia as a nation, don't want to be labeled as barbaric people just because violent conflicts are taking place in some parts of our country," Addie said.

Most of 190 people killed in the blasts were Australians.

Addie will lead the Twilite Orchestra to perform the memorial concert at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Bukit Jimbaran, 30 kilometers south of the provincial capital of Denpasar. The concert will be broadcast live on SCTV, starting at 7 p.m., West Indonesia time.

United Care For Bali (UCFB), which organized the event, has distributed 7,000 invitations to both Jakarta and Bali.

The Australian national anthem will be played after the Indonesian anthem Indonesia Raya.

"Initially, we thought of putting the Australian National Anthem out of our program. But, after much consideration, we decided to play the anthem. After all, this memorial concert is about two nations, who share a long history of friendship and mutual respect. They are now trying to survive the bitter and terrible ordeal of losing their people in the bombings," Addie said.

Fourteen pieces will be performed at the concert, including such inspirational pieces as Amazing Grace, Hymn to the Fallen, The Beatles' Imagine, Tanah Tumpah Darahku (My home soil), and You'll Never Walk Alone.

Tenor Christopher Abimanyu, soprano Linda Sitinjak, famous child singer Sherina, Rio Febrian, Twilite Chorus and the Udayana University Choir are among the performers.

"I don't know if al-Qaeda did the bombing or about whether Australian intelligence has done to our compatriots in Australia some injustice. I don't want to talk about politics.

"Through the concert we only want to share our feelings, our respect, and send our condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the tragedy, Indonesian and Australian alike," Addie said.