Balinese look to 2003 as year for healing

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.