KUTA: Commemorations will be held on the Indonesian island of Bali on Wednesday as survivors, alongside families and friends of the victims, gather to mark the 20-year anniversary of the Bali bombing - one of the world's deadliest militant attacks.
A total of 202 people, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians, were killed when a car bomb exploded outside the Sari Club in Bali's Kuta Beach area and from another almost simultaneous blast at the Paddy's Bar across the road.
A ceremony including peace prayers and the symbolic release of 20 birds will be among several events taking place on the predominantly Hindu island, including at a memorial erected in the area of the blasts.
"The memorial for us is to remember, to remind everyone there was a terrorist attack there and that we don't want it to happen again," said Ni Luh Erniati, who lost her husband in the attack and will join morning prayers with her children.
Two decades on from the bombings, which were blamed on the al Qaeda-linked jihadist network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), memories of the attack continue to haunt survivors.
Balinese father of two, I Dewa Ketut Rudita Widia Putra, was caught in traffic on the busy strip in Kuta, when the bombs were detonated. After crawling out of his smouldering car, he was rushed to hospital with burns covering a third of his body.
"To this day, I still feel traumatised and scared when I take the car out and get caught in a traffic jam," said the now 55-year-old.
"Even when I realise I am not in Kuta traffic, I can shake in fear, break out in a cold sweat and feel really scared."
Indonesian police and the Australian consulate general in Bali will also hold memorials.
In the wake of the Bali attacks and with backing from Australia and the United States, Indonesia set up an elite anti-terrorism unit called Special Detachment or Densus 88 that weakened JI and resulted in scores of suspected Islamic militants being arrested or killed.
The world's biggest Muslim-majority country has also pioneered deradicalisation schemes for convicted militants, though these have been both praised and criticised for their effectiveness.
Sparking dismay among many affected by the attacks, the Indonesian government said in August that Bali bomb maker Umar Patek was eligible for parole and could soon be released.
Reuters
Wed Oct 12 2022
Mourners gather for a memorial service to mark the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians, at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, October 12, 2022. - REUTERS
Maritim Malaysia gagalkan cubaan seludup 35 warga asing
Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (Maritim Malaysia) menggagalkan cubaan menyeludup masuk 35 pendatang asing warga Filipina di perairan Kudat, petang semalam.
Akta Pembangunan Mineral 1994 perlu dipinda bagi penuhi keperluan REE negara
Akta Pembangunan Mineral 1994 perlu dipinda dalam usaha memenuhi keperluan pembangunan kerangka model perniagaan unsur nadir bumi (REE) negara.
Pasaran getah Malaysia ditutup tinggi jejaki prestasi serantau
Ia seiring dengan pengukuhan niaga hadapan getah Shanghai berikutan sentimen dirangsang oleh data ekonomi China yang menggalakkan.
Kebakaran hutan tanah gambut di Rompin dijangka dipadamkan sepenuhnya seminggu lagi
Kebakaran di kawasan hutan tanah gambut di Rompin sejak Sabtu lepas dijangka dapat dipadamkan sepenuhnya dalam tempoh seminggu lagi.
Fahmi bidas kenyataan Dr Afif mengenai calon PH bagi PRK
Fahmi membidas Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Tertinggi Bersatu Dr Afif Bahardin yang dianggapnya membuat kenyataan seksis terhadap calon PH bagi PRK KKB, Pang Sock Tao.
Etika kewartawanan bezakan wartawan warga dengan pengamal media sebenar - Fahmi
Etika kewartawanan yang teguh amat penting dalam memastikan kemampanan industri media di negara ini.
Lebih 10,000 orang hilang di bawah runtuhan di Semenanjung Gaza sejak 7 Okt
Perkhidmatan Pertahanan Awam Palestin pada Selasa berkata lebih 10,000 orang masih hilang di bawah runtuhan di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza sejak bermulanya serangan Israel pada 7 Okt 2023.
TLDM lancar penjajaran Pelan Transformasi 15to5
TLDM akan melancarkan dokumen Platform semasa Pameran Perkhidmatan Pertahanan Asia (DSA) 2024 berlangsung pada 6 hingga 9 Mei ini.
Menteri Pertahanan Malaysia, Indonesia bincang keselamatan, kesiapsiagaan masa depan serantau
Pertemuan Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin dan Prabowo Subianto hari ini membincangkan pelbagai isu termasuk cabaran keselamatan dan mempromosi kestabilan di rantau Asia Tenggara.
PM Anwar, Menteri Ekonomi Indonesia sepakat dorong ASEAN-GCC jadi kekuatan ekonomi baharu
Anwar dan Airlangga Hartarto percaya dialog strategik ASEAN-GCC di WEF penting sebagai momentum dalam mengukuhkan kerjasama ASEAN dan GCC, khususnya bagi perdagangan dan pelaburan.