Disgusted by Balinese tolerance
Bali is our face, the face of Indonesia. Before the Oct. 12 tragedy that rocked Bali with the largest blast ever in the country, Bali had "belonged to aliens".
After that significant event, in which hundreds were killed, a majority of which were these very aliens, Bali suddenly allowed itself to "belong to foreign governments" interested in discovering what was behind the incident. We are now being dictated to like foolish guests.
The Balinese were not angry when they became servants of these outsiders, as this tourist paradise was turned into a place of drug transactions and a haven for Javanese prostitutes.
The Balinese were not enraged when local youths sold their bodies to satisfy the sexual desire of foreign tourists, when their pre-teen children were made objects of pedophiles.
The Balinese were not furious when their religious rituals were used for tourist attractions, when their places of worship were "trampled on" by aliens wearing flip-flops, and little else. For the sake of dollars, the Balinese were prepared to ignore moral values.
The Balinese were, however, furious when a minister questioned the religion of Megawati, who at that time was praying at a temple, while she was not a Hindu. The Balinese were angry with the minister, not with Megawati, who used the prayer as part of her political campaigning on the eve of general elections.
Even chairman of the Hindu Intellectuals Association (Putu Setia), who should have been rational, appeared to be emotional, while he was not offended when Bali was made a tourism commodity, a base of flesh and pot. The Balinese threatened to separate from the republic if the minister was not dismissed.
Now, as Bali has been rocked by bombs of tremendous power, the Balinese do not demand that some ministers (high officials) responsible for security and intelligence resign from their posts for failing to maintain Bali's peace and order.
So, Bali is the face of the Indonesian nation now losing its dignity. An overwhelmed yet boastful nation.
PUTU YASA
Jakarta