Kuta to build monument carrying names of blast victims

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

The Badung regency administration has announced plans to build a monument at the site of last year's bomb blast, in the popular tourist area, Kuta.

The announcement was made on Tuesday. The unveiling of the design for the monument comes just 10 months after the terrorist attacks that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

Developed by a team of consultants from the Udayana University, the plan was presented before the Badung regent, Cok Ratmadi, representatives from the Forum Samigita and the inter- village community organizations of Seminyak, Legian and Kuta.

The design is composed of three elements, a memorial wall, a replica of a Balinese-style temple and a fountain. The monument will be constructed on a 137 square meter plot, directly across from the former site of the Sari Club, where the most devastating of three bombs exploded.

The wall will stand on the northern side of the plot, facing south, and the center of the wall will be engraved with a giant illustration of Kayonan. In the Balinese tradition and in wayang kulit (traditional leather puppetry) Kayonan is the cosmic symbol of life and death.

The names of the 202 victims of the bombings will be engraved on the wall.

In front of the wall, flag poles will fly the flags of the countries that lost their citizens to the tragedy.

The memorial wall is expected to be completed before the first anniversary of the tragedy in October. While the rest of the monument will be completed two years later.

A towering structure, designed like a temple (candi) -- the ancient Hindu place of worship -- will be erected in the center of the monument. It will stand at 10 meters, and two meters in diameter.

A flag pole flying the Indonesian flag will separate the structure from the fountain, which will be built on the southern most tip of the plot.

The design also conveyed that a museum and an open space for the public would be situated at the location.

The Badung regency administration has allocated Rp 835 million to buy the designated plot from its present owners.

"The Bali provincial administration will provide the funds for the construction of the monument," Badung regent Cok Ratmadi said.

However, chief consultant Wayan Gomudha said that the 137 square meter plot was inadequate and at least 1,000 square meters was needed.

However, the design is still in its infancy, Gomudha said it will probably undergo many revisions, to accommodate the suggestions of the public, before construction actually starts.