Marriot victims take leading role

Marriot victims take leading role

Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Forum Lima Delapan (F58), an organization of several Marriott
bombing victims and their families, is urging the government to
set specific terms for free medical treatment promised for
victims of last week's blast in Kuningan.

Forum chairman Wahyu Adiartono said recently that medical
treatment also included subsequent treatment after patients were
discharged from hospitals, like changing bandages, psychological
counseling and physiotherapy.

"They (the government) should state clearly if they want to
cover only hospital expenses," said Wahyu. "Other parties can
step forward to cover the rest of the costs."

On Sept. 9, Jakartans were stunned by a blast in front of the
Australian Embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta.
Nine people were killed in the attack and 182 others were
wounded, mainly by pieces of metal and shattered glass.

Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi and Governor Sutiyoso have
pledged to cover all medical bills of the bomb victims. This
promise was also made last year for victims of the Marriott
bombing, which took the lives of 12 people and injured 147
others.

Several burn victims still have to have regular check ups and
may have to go through further surgery. These bills are not paid
by the government.

The forum also urged the government to ensure that the
patients should not have to pay the bills first before waiting
for reimbursement from the government. "Hospitals should do that,
not the victims," said Wahyu.

A Marriott bombing victim, Febby Firmansyah, said it was
difficult to witness a blast. "When you are a victim, you just
surrender to fate," said Febby, who suffered burns on 42 percent
of his body. "But watching the aftermath, you wonder what if you
were there."

F58 members came to the bomb site right after the blast and
visited to hospitals where the victims were taken to. At the
nearby Metropolitan Medical Center (MMC) Hospital, for example,
the organization acted as guarantors for five wounded victims.

Aside from assisting the Kuningan victims, F58 has been
collecting data for their future needs. "We will try to provide
scholarships for the surviving children," said Wahyu.

The organization also visited patients to give moral support.
"What's important is support, not pity," said Febby.

Over the weekend, several members came to four grieving
families who have lost their loved ones in the blast and gave
condolences and financial assistance.