HAYLEY SORENSEN
IN the middle of bustling Kuta, amid the nightclubs and markets, is a striking memorial.
Two hundred and two names are etched into a marble plaque, surrounded by a high wall of carved stone.
For more than a decade, it has been a place of pilgrimage for those wishing to pay their respects to those killed in the 2002 Bali bombings.
The bombings at Sari Club and Paddy’s Bar are rightly seared into Australians’ consciousness. Eighty eight of the 202 victims were Australians, beach holiday makers and teammates on end-of-year footy trips.
It might have been on foreign soil, but it felt like an attack directly on Australia.
That’s why the initial reaction last week to the news plans for a “peace park” at the site of the Sari Club had been shelved was one of sadness and in some cases, anger.
For more than a decade, advocates have been fundraising to pay for a second memorial ON THE US NAVY’S NEW UFO REPORTING GUIDELINES, WHICH UFO SPOTTER GERRY WOOD SHOULD’VE BEEN CANVASSED ON
@Lauren Roberts. Ayn Rand ON BAKER BOY,THE LARRAKIA DANCERS AND THE MASSIVE CONGA LINE THAT WOWED CROWDS AT THE ARAFURA GAMES OPENING CEREMONY
Fireworks were great. Ke Vin Just look at those beautiful girls. Annie Richards on the vacant site, which is currently functioning as a car park. The frustration that effort might be wasted is understandable. The fact the peace park proponents were asked to immediately pay millions to have the top floor set aside as a memorial added to the hurt. ON AUSTIN ASCHE, THE 93YEAR-OLD WW2 AIRFORCE VETERAN WHO WAS HAILED AT DARWIN’S ANZAC DAWN SERVICE
I had the privilege of meeting this amazing couple back in May 2015. Such lovely people. Jayne Hinron
Austin and Val — both NT National Treasures. Penni Tastula Thank you for your service, then and now. Judy Troy A beautiful man and his amazing wife. Coralie Brannelly Was magic to see Austin lay a
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the plan to build a five-storey restaurant and nightclub at the site was “deeply distressing”.
Australia’s Consul-General in Bali was working to “resolve” the issue with local authorities, he said.
“For the 88 Australians, and their families, for whom this is rightly – and it is for all Australians, I think – a very sacred place, I am deeply disturbed, deeply disturbed by the decision that would see an entertainment complex put on that site,” Mr Morrison said.
Professor Len Notaras, who was Royal Darwin Hospital general manager at the time of the bombings and helped coordinate the care of the 75 vicwreath this morning. What a champion. Glenda Stripling On ya Austin! Bev Phelts ON THE BOOING OF COLLINGWOOD CAPTAIN SCOTT PENDLEBURY, WHICH OVERSHADOWED AN EPIC ANZAC DAY ENCOUNTER
They were booing the Collingwood umpires. Get over it Bucks. Go have a cry with Eddie and grow some balls. James Fuller Very poor sportsmanship just disgraceful. Dot Farmer Poor sportsmanship indeed! Stephanie Ann Clack tims who were treated there, told the NT News he was “appalled” at the plan.
“There are not many events in Australia’s history where 88 civilians in the space of a few minutes were killed,” he said.
“The site itself is sacred, it represents a terrible moment that should never be forgotten – and to put up a restaurant, that means it’s going to be lost.”
But not all the survivors agree. One who phoned into Melbourne radio station 3AW said it was “preposterous” for Australia to presume to tell Indonesians what they should and shouldn’t do with the site.
“I don’t see it as a holy site,” the survivor said.
“It’s not a burial ground for people. It’s where it happened.
“Are we going to stop using Flinders Street, or Bourke Street, because terror attacks happened there?”
While the bombings were a tragedy in Australia’s history, it was a sorrowful day for Indonesia and the Balinese. It is still the deadliest terror attack in Indonesia’s history. Thirtyeight of the victims were local.
Indonesia is a sovereign country, with its own rules and should be left to make its own decisions, free from intervention from foreign governments, including Australia’s.
We don’t have the right to demand the land be set aside forever as a mausoleum.
The best way to honour the dead is to respect Indonesia’s
“We shouldn’t let a dispute over a monument to peace and to unity accomplish that goal for them, almost two decades after the bombs went off.”
Booing during a medal presentation is disrespectful. Very poor taste. Thank goodness I’m not an AFL fan. Cindy Impelmans
I’m a Pies supporter, i don’t mind the booing, it just means that the Dons supporters were a bit cheesed they lost ... I hope it doesn’t come to snowflakes running our game. Scott Pledger On ya bucks. Bryan King
People just need to harden up! World is becoming soft these days! Wayne Graetz Was booing Eddie Maguire I sovereignty, to continue to visit and love Bali and carry on our friendships with its people.
The terrorists who carried out the bombings wanted to maim and kill as many Westerners as they could.
They also wanted to create division and hatred.
We shouldn’t let a dispute over a monument to peace and to unity accomplish that goal for them.
And that striking memorial isn’t going anywhere. reckon. Tim Whall Oh come on, it’s all part of footy fun. Melanie Clare
Not great, I do believe the booing was about the questionable umpiring decisions and not the player, or I hope. Torrent Hobbs
At least we don’t make fun of disabled people like Eddie. Patricia Delalande
Get over it. It would be unAustralian to not boo at the footy. Kristy Canavan Having a boo hoo about the boo is always a boo boo. Jono Black