Mega to skip Bali commemoration

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.