Bali remembers bombing tragedy
Bali remembers bombing tragedy
The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Jakarta
Today two years ago, extremists bombed Bali in the country's
worst terrorist attack, but since then life has returned to
normal with sunburned tourists again packing beaches and bars on
the resort island.
But the pain is still plaguing victims, many of whom were
foreign tourists. At least 202 people died in the Oct. 12, 2002
bombings.
In the months following the attacks, the island was left
deserted and devastated as foreign tourists shunned it.
However, things are different now. Hotels located near the
popular Kuta and Legian surfing beaches, are almost back to full
occupancy, while restaurants and bars are enjoying steady
business.
According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the
number of foreign tourist arrivals at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport
increased by 53 percent between January and August this year.
Memorial events are being prepared by Balinese residents, the
families of the bombing victims and the Australian government to
commemorate the tragedy on Tuesday on the Kuta nightclub strip --
the site of the blasts.
The Bali administration will not officially organize an
commemorative event as this would be out of keeping with
tradition in the predominantly Hindu province. However, local
officials said they are assisting the staging of memorial events.
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia David Ritchie arrived in
Bali on Sunday to be present for the second anniversary of the
attacks, Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. AS Reniban said.
Along with Badung regent Cok Ratmadi, Ritchie is slated on
Tuesday to inaugurate a monument in front of the Panin Bank
branch on Jl. Legian, some three kilometers east of the bomb
site.
The ambassador will later hold prayers along with all the
survivors and families of the dead at the blast site. At least 88
Australian tourists were among those killed in the devastating
attacks.
"The ceremony will be guarded by around 1,096 police officers.
They have been deployed around the venue of the ceremony,"
Reniban said.
Bali's pecalang (traditional militia) and local youths,
numbering a total of 655 guards, as well as scores of military
personnel are helping the police provide security for the event,
which will cost around Rp 60.9 million (US$6,766).
Commemoration committee chairman I Nyoman Bagiana Karang said
the Kuta area would be closed to motorists and those not
participating in the event.
"Jl. Legian will be closed for 24 hours from 6 a.m. on
Tuesday. The street will be reopened again at 6 a.m. on
Wednesday," he added.
Motorists are advised to bypass the streets leading to Legian
to avoid traffic congestion.
Bagiana said Tuesday's commemorative ceremony will feature a
series of memorial events, including a simple wreath-laying
service at the scene of the attacks.
Other activities include the playing of a documentary on the
bombings, the release of doves as symbols of peace, and a
candlelight vigil.
The families of the dead victims and survivors will be given a
chance to make memorial speeches before the procession is closed
with a peace forum.
The anniversary comes just over a month after a suicide bomber
attacked the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, killing 10 people.
The latest blast highlighted the fact that the terrorist threat
still persists in Indonesia despite the arrest of more than 100
suspects since 2002.
Jamaah Islamiyah has been blamed for the Bali and embassy
attacks, as well as the suicide bombing last year of the J.W.
Marriott Hotel that killed 12 people.