Protesters return to 'ground zero' in Kuta to denounce court ruling
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.