Bomb victims revisit painful memories
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The 21-year-old police officer looks very different from his appearance a year ago. His distant look has replaced the bold stare in the photo taken before the Australian Embassy bombing that changed his life.
Although he has not fully recovered from the severe injuries he sustained in the Sept. 9, 2004 explosion, Second Brig. Asep Wahyudi insisted on putting on his uniform and joined several other injured victims to revisit the site.
Half dragging his right foot, Asep -- assisted by two officers -- placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta. Taking off his hat, he revealed a deep scar at his right temple.
People commemorating the bombing outside the embassy on Friday were there either because they lost relatives in the blast or were left maimed. The suicide bombing killed 11 Indonesians, including one of the bombers, and badly damaged the embassy's fence.
As religious leaders led prayers, Asep's mother wiped tears from her eyes. Two Australian Embassy staff members tightly held hands as their expressions hardened.
Suffering does not select victims. Both Indonesians and Australians felt the same deep pain over the incident.
"The bombing has only brought the two countries closer together," said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia David Ritchie.
"The terrorist aimed to force the two countries further apart and bring down the Indonesian government. Well, they have failed," he added.
At the commemoration, an embassy officer passed on a message from Australian Prime Minister John Howard: "Fanatics have abused religion and used terror to attack values such as freedom, democracy, tolerance and moderation."
Ritchie said that his government had been very pleased with the work of the Indonesian police in tracking down the people responsible for the terrorist attack.
The National Police arrested four people in connection with the blast. Two of them, Agus Ahmad and Heri Sigu Samboja, have been sentenced to four and seven years in imprisonment respectively.
Two other suspects, Ahmad Hasan and Rois, are standing trial at the South Jakarta District Court and could face the death penalty.
"We have been very pleased with the last verdict but do not have any comment on the death penalty. It lies fully in the hands of the Indonesian court," Ritchie said.
He added that the embassy had taken extra precautions to protect its citizens and employees, such as by issuing travel warnings during months when terrorist attacks most often took place.
The bombing was the third major terrorist attack in Indonesia after the Bali and Marriott bombings. However, it was seen as the first to have been targeted directly against Australians.
The 2002 attack on Bali nightclubs killed 202 people and a car bomb the year after killed 12 people at the JW Marriott Hotel in South Jakarta.