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