Where's all the money they pledged, asks Bali administration

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

The Bali administration questioned on Thursday the whereabouts of the financial assistance promised by various parties, including the central government, foreign countries and international funding organizations, to help the province recover following the Oct. 12 bomb outrages in Kuta.

Administration spokesman I Gede Nurjaya said on Thursday that after the bombing many parties had expressed their sympathy and support, and promised to extend assistance to help the province revive its economy, which in the immediate aftermath of the bombings was expected to virtually collapse.

Bali was one of the world's most popular tourist destinations before the bomb attacks, which killed over 190 people, shattered its image as a safe holiday destination.

The government has predicted that 800,000 people would lose their jobs as a result of the slump in the province's tourist industry.

"The central government, international donor organizations and some foreign countries promised to help us but so far we haven't received a penny," Nurjaya complained.

"Today, we (the governor and his officials) are supposed to discussing our draft plan for Bali's recovery, but there's nothing we can do without the funds they promised. There are plans, both emergency, short and long term, that need to be put in place in order to rebuild the province's economy," Nurjaya said.

As part of its emergency plan, the administration is to focus on helping the bomb victims, providing education allowances for their children, repairing damaged buildings and improving security.

One-and-a-half months after the bombings, economic hardship has started to hit those who rely on tourism and its supporting sectors. The current problems Bali is facing were foreseeable due to the significant drop in the number of foreign tourists as a result of the attacks.

Countries like the U.S., Australia, Britain and several European countries have yet to lift their travel warnings advising their nationals against visiting Bali.

Long before the bombing, Bali had received Rp 483 billion from the central government through the Ministry of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure, and US$7 million from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for development programs.

The local administration has also raised Rp 3.5 billion from various sources, including local companies, and has disbursed some Rp 355 million to the 13 hospitals that have been treating the bomb victims, as well as other emergency units.

"The remaining funds will be allocated for improving the security infrastructure in Bali," Nurjaya said.

The donations excluded Rp 1 billion received by Badung regency from the Ministry of Social Affairs to pay compensation to the relatives of the victims, the injured and the owners of properties that were damaged in the bombings.

The Kuta tourist resort is located in Badung regency.