Mourners show unity, solidarity
Mourners show unity, solidarity
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali
As all of about 2,000 candles were lit, the area around the Bali monument in Kuta gradually transformed into a sea of waving light.
"It is as if we are trying to push away the darkness that has engulfed our hearts these few years. For me, it is a symbolic act of substituting the curse of darkness, be it in the form of pain, anger or hatred, with the grace of light in the form of love, forgiveness and compassion," Balinese poet Cokorda Sawitri said.
The candlelight vigil was the peak of the second commemoration of the tragedy, in which 202 people were killed after two powerful bombs exploded on Oct. 12, 2002 inside two of Kuta's fully-packed nightclubs.
Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika, who played a pivotal role in the investigation and the arrests of the terrorists responsible for the bombing, was given the honor of lighting the first candle. With the names of the bombing victims, engraved on the monument's black granite as the backdrop, Pastika spoke about the meaning behind the event.
"We are not commemorating the pain or the suffering. Instead, we are commemorating the love, compassion, courage and spirit of brotherhood that had been shown by the people of Kuta and other nations during those difficult days. Those are the things we are always longing for," he said.
The head of the commemoration committee Bagiana Karang said the event was organized by the people of Kuta, including its expatriate communities, since the government of Bali had showed its reluctance to conduct such an event.
"We have organized this commemoration because we feel that it is our moral responsibility to keep reminding the world of those who fell on that infamous night, and of the power of love and solidarity the people from different races, nationalities and creeds showed on the days following the cowardly attack," Bagiana said.
"Most importantly, we want to show the world that terrorism will never win. Instead of destroying and dividing us, the attack has made us grow stronger and more united," he said.
Earlier in the afternoon, thousands of people flocked to the Puputan Margarana Square in Denpasar's Renon area to rejoice and pray together in a religious event called the Gema Perdamaian (Echo of Peace).
The square was transformed into a colorful sea of religious robes -- the Buddhist's ocher, the Ananda Marga's orange and the Balinese Hindu's white. Like a fresh breeze, children ran to and fro carrying colorful placards emblazoned with slogans of love and peace.
After conducting a pada yatra (peace march) Muslims, Hindus and Falun Gong practitioners sat side by side, fresh roses in their hands, immersing themselves in the chants of peace and love of different beliefs.
"This is a clear message that all religions promote love and compassion and do not condone any act of terrorism or violence that targets innocents or civilian lives," a member of the organizing committee, I Made Suryawan, said.