Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer has said he expects the site of the Bali Bombings in 2002, to eventually return to commercial use. Anyone who has been in Kuta lately will know the Sari Club site, is still covered in weeds, but the Paddy’s site, across the road is being use as a parking lot.
Mr. Downer says he think the current memorial is sufficient, and should remain. However the land for the 2 sites is privately held, so will probably be built on at some future date. This whole memorial issue brings up interesting questions, including; which bombing site is the most important? (Sari Club, Paddy’s, Raja’s, or the 2 seafood restaurants at Jimbaran Bay), Should they all be turned into memorials? If so who should pay for them? Should we always have a memorial for a tragic event? Who decides what’s tragic?
My friend Dallas Finn, Director of Bali Peace Park, is confident the Sari Club site will be turned into a permanent memorial. I get little bits of inside info, but not the whole scoop. Basically Dallas has to balance dealing with the village of Kuta, and its various levels of government, the Australian government, the landowner and others. The Sari Club site is in a prime location and is worth a lot. Needless to say, the owner’s valuation is sky high, now he realizes someone wants to make it a memorial. For more info contact Dallas via the website.
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In lite of the comments made by Mr Downer whom I mite point out that his department are paying very close attention it seems he has once again put his foot in his mouth.
There was a write up in the Sunday times yeaterday (WA) re the Dallas Flynn Peacepark.Seems that he is getting some progress there and just needs a bit more funding.At least ,now both governments are listening,