Karateka Bambang lives to tell of tsunami horror
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A fateful decision may have saved the life of karateka Bambang Maulidin amid the devastating Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami.
The 2003 Southeast (SEA) Games gold and 2002 Asian Games silver medalist was at home in Ponge Ujung, Banda Aceh, two kilometers from the coastline, when the quake hit at about 8 a.m.
None of his family was hurt in the enormous quake, centered off the west Aceh coast, and Bambang, 25, decided to leave on his motorbike to check the situation in the city, first asking for his parents' permission.
But the Sunday morning calm was shattered when he heard cries of "seawater, seawater" as the tsunami pounded the Aceh capital.
Bambang immediately tried to return to his home but was driven back by the surging wall of water.
It was only after it had subsided that he could make his way back. He found that his house, built with bonuses from the National Sports Council (KONI) for his medal-winning victories, had been totally demolished.
Even worse news awaited him.
Although his two teenage brothers had survived, the whereabouts of other family members, including a sister who was engaged to be married, is unclear.
"A week after the tsunami, I still do not know the fate of my parents and my two sisters," he said in a telephone interview on Monday, his voice sounding weak and sad.
"I leave their fate to God."
Bambang and his brothers, aged 18 and 15, have been brought to Jakarta with the assistance of the Indonesian Karate-do Federation (Forki) and KONI.
They are staying at the home of federation secretary-general Hendarji in Cipayung, East Jakarta. Bambang seems resigned to the fate of his missing family members, and has held a mourning ritual to pray for them.
Despite his sadness, he is thinking about his future. It includes a possible return to his sport after he was sidelined by a nagging leg injury suffered in the 2004 National Games in Palembang, South Sumatra.
"I wish to work again as my office in the Regional Development Bank (BPD) in Banda Aceh was destroyed. I was told that Pak (Mr.) Hendarji is trying to get a job for me in Bank Mandiri. I hope it's true," said Bambang, who, like many successful national athletes, was provided with a job in a government-related institution.
He is also looking forward to a return to his sport after an absence of three months.
"I'm ready to practice karate again, and if Forki calls me to rejoin the Indonesia Awakens (IA) program, I'll be pleased to hear it."
The IA was formed by KONI to improve medal-winning chances in the 2006 Asian Games.
Bambang is not the only athlete to have been hit by the Aceh devastation; two fencers, a boxing referee and a local official of the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) have also been reported missing.
KONI chairman Agum Gumelar, speaking on his arrival from Aceh on Tuesday, said he asked the Aceh chapter of the sports body to keep searching for survivors among the athletes, but the effort was hampered by the lack of information and logistical problems.
"But up to now, we have no exact figure about athletes who suffered in the tsunami as telephone communication has been so difficult in Aceh."
He assured that KONI would provide similar emergency assistance to other athletes in Aceh affected by the disaster.
The sports body will also invite on Thursday all its affiliated organizations to participate in a fund-raising drive, Agum said.