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."