'I will not flee and satisfy these animals'

'I will not flee and satisfy these animals'

The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

Forensics experts spent Monday sifting through the chaos of
burned out vehicles and wrecked buildings for evidence in what
was once the lively Legian strip in Kuta catering to mainly an
expatriate crowd, following a massive explosion believed to be a
car bomb that ripped through the area.

And it appears by the casualty lists -- the death toll now
topping 190 -- that expatriates were indeed the target of this
terrorist attack that is being billed as the worst in Indonesian
history.

Another explosion close to the honorary U.S. consulate at
approximately the same time appeared to be unrelated given its
size, placement and lack of any casualties, fueling further
speculation as to the origins of the explosions.

Journalists and civilians alike were turned away from the
sealed four-block area surrounding Legian beginning around
midnight Sunday, supposedly in order to preserve evidence at the
scene even though this explanation ran contrary to the lack of
security the previous day when people tramped through the area
unopposed.

Bystanders and locals bore mute testimony to the sense of
shock that still pervaded those having witnessed the carnage that
had taken place here, and its aftermath.

Yet out of the wreckage of charred roof tiles and shattered
glass there emerged a distinct air of defiance among surviving
expatriates, many of whom have elected to stay on in an effort to
obtain answers and comfort the survivors.

"If I leave, then the terrorists win," said Benjamin from
Europe. "There is no way I am going to give these animals the
satisfaction of watching me flee in terror."

He went on to say that just as the tragedy at the World Trade
Center in 2001 united Americans, this act of cowardice will unite
the free peoples of the world as it cut across national and
social barriers.

Australian Robbie Bass, who was caught near the epicenter of
the blast, displayed a similar attitude.

"The first explosion occurred in Paddy's, this was the small
bomb and a few seconds later there was a much larger explosion in
the Sari Club which blew the place to smithereens," Bass said.

"I was about 75 yards from the Sari at the time and was lifted
up and blown backwards at least 15 feet and there was a massive
fireball. Afterwards there was mass panic, people screaming and
running and bodies everywhere. It looked like a war zone and I'm
very lucky to be standing here now," he said, adding that this is
the first time he had ever seen and experienced anything like
this.

Bass then became angry. "This act of terrorism should make
everyone unite and stick together, helping themselves and helping
to support the people of Bali and the economy. This was a
terrorist act, a crazy act and in Bali we call these people gila
sekali, very crazy people," he said.

Speculation as to the origin of the explosion is rife among
the survivors, ranging from outside terrorist groups to military
conspiracies.

Civilian and military authorities have remained silent,
refusing comment.

At midday Akbar Tandjung made a whirlwind tour of the blast
site accompanied by a large entourage, vowing to eliminate
terrorism.

As mourners continued to pour into the area bearing flowers,
they seemed to bring with them a faint sense of hope along with
the resplendent colors that speak so much of this island that had
been before last Saturday a haven from terrorist attacks that
have plagued the region in the past.

An Australian expatriate who wished to remain anonymous summed
all this up. "Bali is paradise. No act of terror will ever change
that."