Thousands gather in Bali to remember tragedy of bombings
I Wayan Juniartha & Wahyoe Budiwardhana
The Jakarta Post

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 PM a moment of silent was observed.

At five minutes to midnight the public was welcomed to the venue to join a candle light 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 am 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 unit 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 terrorist 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 suffering has reinforced the bond among us all” he added.

The ceremony was held at newly built monument that lies several meters from the former Sari Club and the Paddy’s café, the main target of the Oct. 12th 2002 bombings.

Flags of countries that lost their citizens in the blasts, the second worst after the Sept 11th 2001 terrorist attack on New York and the Pentagon flew above a granite wall inscribe 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 were casual attire with red rose in their hands.

The ceremony started at 08:00 am with Badung regent Tjok Ratmadi placing a flower wreath on the monument. A moment of silence was then observed followed y a dozens of scout distributed 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 the 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 Rimpoche.

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 around 11:50 am. Howard place 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 Café.

Australia suffered the heaviest loss as 88 Australians 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 Political Affairs 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 server wore a curious sweat shirt bearing the words “Osama don’s surf”.