Balinese look to 2003 as year for healing

Rita A. Widiadana and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

The name "Bali" has always been associated with the image of a paradise island. The Oct. 12 terrorist attack, however, shattered this tranquil image of the international tourist destination.

As the New Year unfolds, the Balinese people expressed fresh hopes as put forward by some of its most prominent figures.

* Ida Ayu Agung Mas is the founder of an environmentally friendly tourism agency?, the Sua Bali Foundation.

I feel serious concern over the present social and economic conditions in Bali.

Bali is now at the crossroads, and needs to decide whether it should continue fostering its tourism industry, now badly shaken by the bombing tragedy, or return its focus to the agricultural sector, which has proven to be resilient to any external factors.

The tragedy has opened the eyes of the Balinese people to the fact that evil exists here, in a place they had always boasted as a safe tourist destination.

Now, what should and can we do? Bali must recover very soon. The tarnished image of Bali must be improved in a very short time.

In the short term, the police have been doing very well by revealing the bombing suspects, creating a very good image both nationally and internationally.

On the other hand, long-term programs must be carried out together by "outsiders" (meaning investors or other businessmen with enterprises in Bali) and the local community.

Owners of business enterprises must be more responsible in supporting and improving the living condition of the locals. The locals, on the other hand, must also increase their quality of life, intellect and levels of religiousness.

During this period shortly after the tragedy, the Balinese people should not dream of immediately switching from tourism to agriculture. It is a nostalgic effort, but we should be realistic. Bali would need between 15 and 20 years before our agricultural sector could become comparable to the tourism industry before the tragedy. The most important point for us, the Balinese people, is to look closely at our inner selves. What have we done?

* I Putu Agus Antara is the chairman of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB).

I hope the year 2003 will bring more prosperity to the Balinese and to the Indonesian people in general.

Despite the tragic bombing which badly affected Bali's tourism industry and ruined the image of Bali as a tourist haven, the Balinese business circle is still optimistic about year 2003. After the tragedy, the business community should review its enterprises.

The tragedy has had, of course, negative impacts, but I really believe it has also had a positive influence on our activities. The development of tourism in Bali has so far been quite misleading, because it did not involve the local community. Many investments have created a wide gap between tourism and the local people. This was actually against the Balinese Tri-Hita Kirana philosophy of tourism, which requires a balance between man, nature and our Creator.

The tragedy could be thought of as a momentous event that has temporarily halted the progress in both society and the economy to give a break for all those affected, including the business community, academicians, religious leaders, professionals and the Balinese public, to come together to rethink and to create a development program which suits and benefits the Balinese people in particular, and Indonesia in general.

Many people have boasted that Bali would recover within a few months. We should be realistic, though, and I would say that if we could regain even 50 percent of our original incomes before the bombing, this would be a good recovery.

To return Bali to the condition it was in prior to the tragedy will take a long, long time. There have been so many short-term programs to improve the shattered image of Bali, like the Bali for the World and the Bali Recovery programs. These programs were, of course, meant to show the world through various musical and cultural events that Bali is already safe. All hotels are now fully booked, the flights are full. But, what's next?

What we really need to do now is to make comprehensive and well-planned programs to develop a sustainable and community- based tourism industry that is not vulnerable to the rapid pace of national and global change.

* Insp. Gen. Budi Setyawan is a Bali police chief. He expressed hopes for a safe gubernatorial race and election of public officials since this year, the term of Dewa Made Beratha as governor will come to an end. Moreover, the two regencies of Gianyar and Klungkung will elect their new regents in 2003.

Regental elections in the past have often been marred by violence, as was the case with the elections in Jembrana, during which a clash occurred between supporters of defeated candidates and security officers, resulting in the loss of life. Election campaigns in Buleleng have virtually divided the regency's people into two opposing camps until now.

I hope that this year, the Balinese people would learn the spirit of fair-play, particularly in regards the gubernatorial race and the election of public officials.

We should learn to accept defeat in a dignified way. If our candidate loses the race, we should raise our hats and shake hands with the winner, instead of resorting to uncivilized and violent acts of retribution.

* I Gusti Bagus Alit Putra, Bali's deputy governor.

I hope Bali will recover after the bombing. By the middle of 2003, we expect more than 2,000 foreign visitors per day coming to Bali, while by the end of the year we expect the number to reach 5,000. That is our target and we must work very hard to achieve it.

There are quick, short-term and long-term recovery programs to improve Bali's social and economic situations after Oct. 12. The immediate program included concerts and cultural activities before and during the New Year. It was quite a successful effort to show the world Bali is already safe to visit.

I have to admit there have been a number of shortcomings in implementing the programs, but we have met with the central committee members to make a comprehensive evaluation of all of the programs. The Bali Recovery programs are being run by two sectors -- the government and the private sector. The government- run programs are carried out under the auspices of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla and State Minister for Tourism and Culture I Gde Ardhika. In addition to the programs, Bali also will increase its security to prevent any further disturbances. I expect everyone in Bali will work together to protect Bali and improve the condition of our people.

* Mardiana Ika, a noted fashion designer based in Bali and Hong Kong. Better known as Ika, she was one of the first people to volunteer her services at the Sanglah General Hospital after the Oct. 12 bombings to help the victims and their families.

The year 2003 will be the year of the Golden Rabbit, my shio. For me, personally, I hope this year will be more fulfilling and prosperous for my family, professional and business lives.

I feel very sad and desperate when I look back at 2002, the tragic year which destroyed the once peaceful Bali. I have been dividing my time between Bali and Hong Kong for the last few years. But here in Bali, I feel really at home. When the bomb ripped through Legian, I felt the obligation to lend a hand immediately to help the victims.

I was deeply shocked and canceled my fashion shows in Hong Kong and Paris to be with other volunteers at the hospital. The bombing left scars and deep wounds not only on the victims but on the entire island -- businesspeople, workers, shopkeepers, hoteliers and, of course, small-scale craftsmen.

After the bombing, you cannot count how many people lost their jobs. How many businessmen received canceled orders. Only a few workers in the tourist-related industry could survive. It was really, really a bleak year for everyone in Bali.

But I was very glad to hear that the central government, as well as noted businessmen from Jakarta, promptly took action to help Bali with a number of programs, which looked perfect on paper. Yet, I have heard many complaints from Balinese event organizers, artists and businessmen who were not involved in any activities to help Bali recover. I just wonder what kind of programs they carried out in Bali. There were lavish concerts and entertainment programs after the bombings, which "they" claimed would help Bali recover its image as Indonesia's number one tourist destination and a safe tourist paradise.

In my opinion, such extravaganzas were not what the Balinese needed most. After the glamorous New Year's party in Kuta attended by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Cabinet members, businesspeople and a line of diplomats, the Balinese people only sat and saw them leaving.

The most hurtful thing was the government's announcement on Jan. 2 of the rise in electricity rates, fuel prices and telephone rates. That is too much for the hurting people of Bali, where unemployment keeps rising. I really hope that in 2003 the central and local governments will pay more attention to the people's suffering. I also hope that all of the people of Bali and all Indonesians will stand up to face this difficult situation in the coming year.

*Mercya Evers, account director for Matamera Communications.

Let's put it this way, lots of people have said lots of things about resolutions and how they are good things; they become hopes and expectations. The expectations themselves will never become reality without effort, commitment, hard work and heart. Most of the time people tend to forget this last thing, that we must have heart!

Look, take a long look around, what we have done to this planet when our heart is not there. Pollution, floods, poverty, violence, unfairness, crime, killing, corruption, nepotism, price hikes, etc., etc.

I know it's not fair if I only look at the negative side because many positive things have helped make the world better, but again, not enough. Even I have to say the positive is diminishing day by day. I hope this will not be our new lifestyle.

After considering everything, I have one resolution; a very simple one. What we call peace and love becoming our faith and leading us to become better people who do not think only of ourselves, but pray and do things for others; for children or family members who have been forgotten or live in unfortunate conditions.

Let's do something for them now. How? Everything is up to us. I strongly believe we will always find a way to help others as long as we are realistic and always have heart. Let's work hand in hand and act together now. Let's live our lives with love for THEM.

* I Wayan Wiradnyana, coordinator for the ProFauna Animal Protection Agency.

The year 2002 was the worst year for the animals of Bali and Indonesia. They were hunted and slaughtered by those who gained financial profit from the animals. Turtles, parrots, orangutans, tigers and other wild animals were found in private homes and institutions in Bali and other places across the country. My great wish for the year 2003 is: stop the hunt and slaughter of animals.