Bali, joy, grief and shame

Bali, joy, grief and shame

The success, diplomatically rather than politically speaking,
booked by Indonesia, and to a certain extent also by President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, who acted as host at the recent summit of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, has
not failed to instill a sense of pride in many Indonesians
at such a rare international achievement.

It was as if the world's leaders were competing in offering
their favors to ASEAN as a relatively new regional organization
while looking for favorable deals with each ASEAN member country
in terms of trade and investment. Bali, indeed, has been a source
of joy for many people who witnessed international harmony and
cooperation being ironed out at that time, thus minimizing the
spirit of competition for new markets and new products among the
leading ASEAN and Asian economies.

Of course, as always, the impression has been created that the
strongest have emerged with the most potentially favorable deals
from the Bali summit of ASEAN and its partners. But the demons on
the island paradise of Bali were not happy if its population, and
the people of Indonesia and the international community, on Oct.
12 last did not deeply grieve at remembering a year ago, the loss
of hundreds of lives following a devilish attack by terrorists on
foreign tourists while enjoying their stay in Kuta.

Nobody can forecast now for how long the earth around Kuta
will remain dry from the tears of the mourning family members of
the victims of the Bali bombing tragedy. In spite of it, tourists
from all over the world will keep flocking to Bali to spend their
holidays, as millions of them did before, to enjoy the magic
spell of Balinese dance, culture, art and enchanting landscapes.

Bali is now declared safe and peaceful again. Many
Indonesians, understandably, have been unable to suppress a sense
of shame over the barbaric behavior of their compatriots. They
feel a strong urge to apologize to the victims of the bombing
incident and their families.

GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta