Thousands gather in Bali to remember tragedy of bombings
Thousands gather in Bali to remember tragedy of bombings
I Wayan Juniartha and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Kuta, Bali
One year after two powerful bombs exploded in Bali's popular
resort area of Kuta -- killing at least 202 people from 22
countries -- thousands of people gathered here on Sunday to pray
and remember those who perished in the attacks.
During poetry recitations many family members could not help
but cry out with intense grief but at 11:08 p.m. a moment of
silence was observed.
At five minutes to midnight the public was welcomed to the
venue to join in a candlelight vigil with the relatives of the
dead.
The emotional ceremony ended smoothly and peacefully with the
lighting of a large candle and the release of pigeons as a symbol
of peace at around 0:12 a.m. on Monday.
The solemn gathering conveyed a clear signal to global
terrorist groups across the world: that violence would never
break the bonds of love and unity among mankind.
This feeling was evident in the words "You killed the body but
not our spirits" emblazoned on yellow T-shirts worn by dozens of
participants.
"Basically, this ceremony is not to commemorate the violence
and tragedy the terrorists inflicted upon us, but to celebrate
our love and life," committee chairman Bagiana Karang said.
"The bombs failed to destroy the love and unity the Balinese
share with people from all nations. Instead, the sufferings has
reinforced the bond among all of us," he added.
The ceremony was held at the newly-built monument that lies
several meters from the former sites of the Sari Club and Paddy's
Cafe, the main targets of the Oct. 12, 2002 bombings.
Flags of countries that lost their citizens in the blasts, the
second worst after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New
York and the Pentagon, flew above a granite wall inscribed with
the names of all the victims.
Since early Sunday morning, an endless flow of people have
flocked to the commemoration site. Some donned Balinese
traditional costumes and carried offerings, while others wore
casual attire with red roses in their hands.
The ceremony started at around 8:00 a.m. with Badung Regent
Tjok Ratmadi placing a flower wreath on the monument. A moment of
silence was then observed followed by dozens of scouts
distributing red roses.
On the sidewalk across from the monument, relatives of the
victims were overwhelmed by emotion, hugging the scouts while
sobbing silently.
At about the same time, around 3,000 Hindus held a mass prayer
at Puputan Square in Denpasar, Bali. The session, in which they
asked God for the cessation of violence across the globe, was led
by high priest Ida Pedanda Bang Buruan Manuaba and also attended
by an entourage of Tibetan Buddhist monks led by Drugpa Rinpoche.
Under the watchful eyes of 18 snipers and guarded by hovering
police helicopters, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and his
wife Janet arrived at the monument at around 11:50 a.m. Howard
placed a bouquet of flowers at the monument, followed by
Australian Ambassador David Ritchie and opposition leader Simon
Crean.
Howard then briefly inspected the mounting array of candles,
flowers and pictures that lay along the iron fence of the Sari
Club before walking across the street to the former site of
Paddy's Cafe.
Australia suffered the heaviest loss as 88 Australian citizens
were killed in the devastating blasts.
Earlier on Sunday, Howard attended a morning mass with the
survivors and relatives of the victims at the Garuda Wisnu
Kencana (GWK) cultural park in Jimbaran. Coordinating Minister
for Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly Amien Rais were present there.
Later in the evening, Howard attended the "Paddle for Peace"
with hundreds of people on Kuta beach. Riding some 40 surfboards,
native and foreign surfers "danced with the waves" and scattered
flower petals to the ocean. One of the surfer wore a curious
sweat shirt bearing the words "Osama Don't Surf."