Protesters return to 'ground zero' in Kuta to denounce court ruling
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Badung, Bali
Dozens of people claiming to represent a number of non- governmental organizations (NGOs) rallied near the Bali "ground zero" in Kuta tourist resort on Saturday to protest a Constitutional Court decision that declared an antiterrorism law not legally binding.
"We are not against the ruling, but we want the Court to accept that the Bali bombing is an extraordinary crime," said coordinator of the demonstration I Wayan Semawa Cipta from the Bali Forum.
Protesters also came from the Association of Indonesian Hindu Dharma Students (KHMDI), the Dharma Strategic Studies Group? and the Forum of Hindu Dharma Student Brotherhood at Udayana University.
During the rally, they distributed roses to passersby and unfurled a 100-meter-long white banner, on which had been written signatures of support for their demand. A number of foreign tourists signed the banner, although some did not understand its purpose.
Two bombs ripped through two nightclubs in this resort area on Oct. 12, 2002, killing 202 people, mostly holidaymakers.
A total of 33 suspects were convicted in the Bali bombing, four of whom were sentenced to death, with two jailed for life.
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court declared as unconstitutional Law No. 16/2003 on the retroactive application of Law No. 15/2003, under which all people implicated in the Bali blast were charged.
Some foreign tourists expressed sympathy with the protesters on Saturday.
"This is a very positive action. It shows the international community that Bali is against terrorists," said Jimmy Chong, a Malaysian national who was visiting the island with his wife.
A Canadian tourist, Claude Letarte, said he could not understand how the law on antiterrorism could have been declared unconstitutional.
"The Bali bombing was an extraordinary crime. It could not be classified as an ordinary one. It was a cold-blooded act," said Letarte.
The protesters dispersed peacefully at 3 p.m. after demonstrating for an hour.