Mega to skip Bali commemoration
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali
The Indonesian government confirmed on Monday that President Megawati Soekarnoputri would not attend the planned memorial service marking the first anniversary of the Oct. 12 Bali bombings next week out of respect for the religious and cultural values of the Balinese people.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said that the decision was taken after consultations with the Balinese authorities and religious leaders.
"It is not part of their tradition to commemorate the deaths especially after the holding of a grand ceremony to purify the island in November last year after the blasts," the minister said.
Hassan said another reason for Megawati's refusal to attend the commemoration was that it coincided with a state visit by the Algerian president to Jakarta
"It (the visit) has to be prioritized as it has been planned for sometime," the minister said.
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Oct. 12. Megawati visited Algeria in September last year.
Hassan underlined the need for sensitivity as regards the local culture, while at the same time Jakarta fully understood the motives of the international community in holding the commemoration.
Hassan said the President had to consider the feelings of the Balinese, whose tradition did not allow them to commemorate deaths or continue to mourn for the dead.
Bali Governor I Dewa Made Beratha, who also attended the press conference, elaborately explained the cultural background, particularly about how local people regard death.
"We conducted the cleansing ceremony, which served as the end of the morning period," the governor explained. "Afterwards, the Balinese committed themselves to developing and managing the island in a better way, while at the same time preventing a similar tragedy from happening again on this tourist island."
"Nevertheless, we are open to foreign traditions and cultures in commemorating the tragedy and will warmly welcome everyone, locals and foreigners, who wish to remember the tragedy," Beratha said.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard is scheduled to attend the ceremony on Oct. 12. But, reports said that Australia has warned survivors and families of the victims to be on their guard against new terror attacks when traveling to the event.
"We offer our hospitality, facilitation, protocol and security for our VIP guests as well as the families," said Beratha, adding that he would accompany Howard during his visit to Bali.
President Megawati has also asked Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to accompany the Australian Prime Minister during the commemoration,
Of 202 people killed in the blasts that ripped through two nightclubs in the popular tourist resort of Kuta last October, 88 were Australians.
Megawati's decision not to attend the commemoration had sparked international criticism, with some accusing the President of being not sensitive to the grief of the dead victims' relatives.
The foreign minister criticized the Australian government for maintaining its travel warning for its citizens heading to Bali, while at the same time asking as many relatives of the victims as possible to attend the commemoration.
"We have done our best to ensure the safety of the tourists here, but like any other country in the world we cannot fully guarantee the safety of foreigners," the minister said.