Bali ‘feels safe’ a decade after bombs
A decade on from the second terror attacks on Bali’s tourist heart, people say they feel safer, but forever on guard.
There was no service to mark the October 1, 2005 attack on Thursday, but the consulate-general opened its reflection garden for those who wanted to pay their respects to the 20 victims, four of them Australian.
A commemoration is planned for October 12, the anniversary of the 2002 Kuta bombings that claimed 88 Australian lives.
Some in Bali, like Brisbane man Edward Johnson, admitted they didn’t realise it was the anniversary.
Although he felt safe, he was also constantly vigilant when on holiday on Bali.
“The terrorism threat still exists, just look what happened in Bangkok recently,” he said.
“I think Bali is quite safe now, but we have to always stay on guard.”
Ni Luh Erniati, of the Isana Dewata Foundation that looks after the families of Bali’s bombing victims, says many of the children, now grown, will attend the October 12 event.
“Their hope is that this will never happen again. It’s enough that we are victims. We hope for no other victims,” she said.
Recent Indonesian police raids that disrupted plans for further bombings reminded her, too, of the threat that still exists.
“But I do feel it’s getting less,” she said.
The foundation plans its service for 5pm on October 12 at the “ground zero” memorial near the former site of the Sari Club.
The 2005 attacks on Jimbaran and Kuta Square restaurants – detonated as people were having dinner – also injured more than 100 people, including 17 Australians.
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