The Jakarta Post, 10/13/2002 7:08:35 PM
RI government strongly condemns bomb blasts in Bali, Manado
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government strongly condemned on Sunday bomb
blasts in the resort island of Bali and the North Sulawesi capital of Manado on
Saturday night, which claimed many lives.
In its seven-point official statement read out by President Megawati Soekarnoputri at
her residence at Jl Teuku Umar here, as quoted by Antara, the government expressed
its condolences to the relatives of victims in the brutal and inhumane violence, which
was against the existing laws, religious teachings and moral values adopted by the
Indonesian nation.
The President said a team of medical workers was continuing to provide medical
treatment to victims in the bomb blasts that left at least 182 people dead and 131
others injured.
The government warmly welcomed Australia's humanitarian aid to send medicines and
a medical team, which is on the way to Bali, she said.
"Security personnel are working hard to investigate the bomb blasts, launch a
manhunt for the culprits and bring them to justice," said Megawati, who was
accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla,
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjorojati and Foreign Affairs
Minister Hassan Wirajuda.
The President asked the public to remain calm and increase its vigilance following the
bomb blasts, adding that they "once again remind us that terrorism is a real danger
and potential threat to national security."
"The Indonesian government will continue to cooperate with the international
community in dealing with terrorism, which also poses a threat to global security,"
she said.
In the meantime, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta also issued a strongly worded
statement condemning the bomb blasts, which, it said, were a form of terrorism.
"There is no reason to justify the action, which has claimed the lives of many people,"
the embassy said.
It said the U.S. government was offering Indonesia assistance to bring the
perpetrators of the bomb blasts to justice.
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, expressed concern
over the bomb blasts. "It's a frightening incident; that's why NU feels concerned,"
deputy secretary-general of NU Executive Board Masduqi Baidlowi told Antara on the
sidelines of a conference of the East Java NU chapter in Pasuruan, East Java, on
Sunday.
"It's very barbaric," said Sholahuddin Wahid, another executive of NU, as quoted by
private Metro TV.
Meanwhile, Syafii Ma'arif, chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second-largest Muslim
organization in the country, strongly condemned the tragic bombing, as reported by
Metro TV.
AFP reported that President Megawati arrived on Sunday at 3:39 pm (0739 GMT) at
Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport and went straight to the stretch of devastated
buildings where a powerful bomb exploded at around 11:00 pm on Saturday.
Tight security was in place, with more than a one kilometer (two-thirds of a mile)
stretch of road cordoned off.
Accompanied by top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, military chief
General Endriartono Sutarto, police chief General Da'i Bachtiar and several other
ministers, Megawati saw from close up the large gaping hole left by the blast in the
middle of the road.
Other ministers present included Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda and Tourism and
Culture Minister I Gede Ardhika, a native Balinese.
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