It can't happen again
In a single normal day, if Fakhrul happens to text me, it usually shouldn’t be a big deal. But this morning it was different. It wasn’t just an ordinary message. It said, “I heard Marriot is bombed, MU game canceled”. For a moment, I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked. A part of me tried to deny it. Immediately, I turned on my TV. It made breaking news on every station. As I’m writing this post, 9 were reported dead and tens of others injured. And the number might be counting. Government officials and bodies responsible for the matter are now investigating the case. Hopefully, we will know the result very soon. I don’t want to speculate who’s behind all this mess. Let them do what they have to do. For now, I’ll just wait and see the development.
What I can say is that today is a bad day to be an Indonesian.
My memory goes back to what happened few years ago. Bali was bombed two times, in 2001 and 2005, killing hundreds. As for Jakarta the list is longer, Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) bombing in 2000, Christmast Eve bombing in the same year, JW Marriot 2003, and Australian embassy 2004. And surely, the latest blast early this morning. The country’s condition has been very conducive in the last 4 or 5 years. The government has been able to focus its attention on other important issues outside security especially economic development. The climate has been supportive for business. Fundamentally, we have had a pretty strong economy. And the growth, although might not be as impressive as China, is steady. So when the incumbent SBY is re-elected again in the last presidential election this month, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. People think that he has been very successful in maintaining the country’s stability, giving people a chance to catch their breath given the turmoil and chaos after the Soeharto’s overthrow in 1998.
People have tried so hard to forget the past. It was painful. It was traumatic. But everybody decided that there is a bright future lying ahead. There are achievements to pursue. Dreams to accomplish. But the bomb has caused another anxiety to the public. Instead of using our energy for developing the nation, it’s now wasted for thinking whether tomorrow everything will still be okay or not.
I thought Bali 2005 was the last. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.
English champions Manchester United scheduled to play against the Indonesian All-Stars next Monday in Gelora Bung Karno have confirmed that they will cancel the match. I don’t care about the cancellation. It’s not that I’m not an MU fan or I haven’t booked the ticket. At this moment, football comes second, or even third. There are other things worth more attention. But the cancellation, as the bomb itself will damage the country’s image and reputation even further. MU is the most popular team on the planet, what they do is always under public microscope. What happens to them right now in their Asian Tour will further worsen our image internationally as the exposure of the news will get bigger. From what we learn, it took years to recover the country’s reputation after several bombs few years ago. When we though we already got the world’s trust again as a safe and peaceful muslim and democratic nation, the blasts force us to start things all over again.
I remember Bali after the 2001 bomb. A region heavily dependent on its tourism industry was hit hard economically by the drop of tourist visits. Business (hotel, travel agent, cafe and restaurant) collapsed. People lost job left and right. The bleak picture might be seen again. Though maybe less severe this time. Jero Wacik, the minister of culture and tourism showed his confidence that our tourism industry can return to normal again, attracting more than 6 millions foreign tourist a year. I always hope it will. But as we’ve experienced, it takes time.
To me personally, this bomb matters more. Since living in Depok 4 years ago, this is the first time bomb blasted in Jakarta. Living in the southern tip of the capital is actually not that bad considering the cost and the traffic. But as felt now by many, the blasts definitely change a lot. My family now worries about my safety. After knowing the news, my mom called me around 11am to make sure I was okay. I convinced her that everything was fine here. Kuningan is located like almost 20 km north of Depok, there should be nothing to worry. But living in a city located thousands of miles away, it’s understandable for her and my family to worry.
An unforgetable Black Friday
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me
Michael Jackson’s death is still mourned by millions around the world and one of his greats ‘Heal the World’ means more today. It reminds us that we haven’t been there yet to have the world that we all dream of. And I just want to say that my thought are with the family and friends of the victim of today’s tragedy.
