Tears and prayers filled the Ground Zero Monument in Kuta on Sunday evening as hundreds of people gathered to mark the 23rd anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombings, which claimed more than 200 lives. The interfaith prayer ceremony, attended by religious leaders, survivors, and local residents, served both as a tribute to the victims and as a reminder of the island’s enduring call for peace and unity.
Representatives from various faith communities stood side by side with survivors and community figures, reflecting on how the tragedy reshaped not only Bali but also Indonesia’s broader fight against terrorism.
Survivors Reflect on Resilience
Among those attending was Tumini, a survivor from Banyuwangi, East Java, who recalled the harrowing night she fought for her life at Paddy’s Club, one of the bombing sites.
“I jumped from the second floor while my body was on fire, my intestines exposed. I couldn’t feel anything anymore, I just surrendered to God,” she said tearfully.
Now a mother, she continues to live with the burn scars left by the attack, which serve as a painful reminder of the violence. Despite this, she expressed gratitude for having survived and for being able to raise her children. Her story stands as a symbol of resilience and hope amid the devastation of that night.
Leaders Emphasize Message of Peace
Reverend Jonathan Suharno, Deputy Chairman of the Kuta Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB), said the annual commemoration is not only to remember the tragedy but also to pray for lasting peace across the world. He noted that the gathering reflects Bali’s ongoing spirit of unity and its rejection of violence in any form.
“From Bali, we send a message of peace that such humanitarian tragedies must never happen again,” he said, adding that the island remains a symbol of tolerance and harmony.
As night fell, participants laid flowers at the monument in silence. Their quiet prayers were occasionally broken by the sound of sobs from families mourning their lost loved ones. The moment captured both the deep sorrow and the renewed determination to uphold peace on the island.
Remembering Indonesia’s Deadliest Terror Attack
The 2002 bombings, carried out by Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian jihadist group affiliated with al-Qaeda, remain the deadliest terrorist attack in Indonesia’s history. On October 12, 2002, explosions tore through Paddy’s Club and the Sari Club in Kuta, killing 202 people, including 88 Australians, 38 Indonesians, 23 Britons, and victims from 20 other countries. A smaller bomb detonated later outside the U.S. Consulate in Denpasar, causing minor damage.
The attacks devastated Bali’s tourism industry, which was only beginning to recover from the global travel downturn following the September 11 attacks. Tourist arrivals dropped by nearly two-thirds, and within three months, an estimated 100,000 workers lost their jobs as hotels, restaurants, and travel businesses were forced to scale back or close.
A Lasting Commitment to Peace
The annual commemoration remains a powerful reminder of Bali’s resilience and the enduring spirit of peace that continues to define the island more than two decades after the tragedy. As prayers concluded at Ground Zero, attendees reaffirmed their shared hope that such violence will never again be repeated in Indonesia or anywhere in the world.
