'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."