171 dead,most blast victims Australian:volunteer

aap ^ | Oct 13 2002

[armed_in_sydney]

About 75 per cent of the people admitted to a Bali hospital with injuries from a bomb blast on the Indonesian holiday island are Australian, a medical volunteer said.

Indonesian police said 171 people were killed and possibly hundreds of others injured when the blast destroyed two bars packed with foreign tourists overnight in Bali's popular Kuta district.

Christine Foster, a Westerner living on Bali who went to help the victims at Sanglah hospital in Denpasar, 15km north of the bomb site, said 75 per cent of those being treated were Australian.

She told BBC television that there were many other people from "all over the world".

Foster listed the other nationalities of the injured victims as Swiss, German, Swedish, American, British and Italian.

Describing the injuries, Foster said: "There's a lot of shrapnel. People are having things sewn up. There are some serious head injuries."

Britain's ambassador to Jakarta, Richard Gozney, told BBC that initial reports indicated "six or seven" British nationals were injured in the blast.

[armed_in_sydney]

Osama mentioned Australia on his hit list,mainly because we were the leading forces in creating a seperate non-Islamic state in East Timor,not to mention that we are a staunch US ally in the war on terror.Words cant express my anger right now.Indonesia will not be allowed to forget this day.

[seeker41]

Americans send you our condolences, I'm so sorry you have to suffer. We are in this together and the islamic terrorists will pay dearly for their atrocities!

[Vidalia]

This cannot possibly be true, for the Australians are a peaceful nation who "officially" love beer and are prone to negotiate and delegate and legislate their problems away, just like Peter Pan...

[seeker41]

ping for the war on terror

[Sunsong]

I'm so sorry this has happened and I share your anger. Australia has been a good friend to us since 9/11 and before.

[KneelBeforeZod]

it pays to pay attention...the current issue of Arthur Frommers "Budget Travel" lists the Ivory Coast as a great inexpensive and SAFE place to visit...yes, they did say it was safe.

oops

[vbmoneyspender]

how is the media treating this in Australia?

[katze]

Add they're ready to fight; the Aussies (and Kiwis) played a big role in Vietnam. They've also helped us in Ashcanistan.

[sofaman]

Our condolences to the families of all those killwd and a speedy recovery to all those wounded.

This is a worldwide proble, that cannot be ignored. Inaction is regarded as weakness. It is, therefore, not an option. it is time to stop talking. It is now the time for action.

[BurbankKarl]

now 182...


massive explosion from a car bomb destroyed a nightclub on the tourist island of Bali, sparking a devastating inferno that killed at least 182 people and wounded more than 300 _ many of them foreigners.

National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said Sunday that the explosion came from a Kijang, a jeep-like vehicle, and called it the worst act of terrorism in Indonesia's history.


President Megawati Sukarnoputri flew to Bali and a security alert was declared nationwide. Security Minister Susilo Bamban Yudhyono said that strategic targets, like liquefied natural gas plants, "will be protected."


Authorities said a second bomb exploded near the island's U.S. consular office. Police said there were no casualties in the second explosion. The U.S. Embassy's recreation club in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, was evacuated Sunday after a bomb threat.


The blasts came three days after the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide alert for terror attacks and highlighted fears by the United States and others that Indonesia _ the most populous Muslim nation _ is becoming a haven for terrorists and that al-Qaida operatives are active.

[seeker41]

That was really uncalled for IMO. The Aussies are some of our last remaining friends in the world.

[wretchard]

I live in Sydney, too. This is Australia's September 11. There may be 100 Australians dead by the time all the bodies are dug out of the rubble. On a population base 1/12 of the US, that would be the equivalent of 1,200 people dying in a single attack.

This war has many fronts, and the battle for the hearts and minds of the public is one of the most important. Presently, you will hear John Pilger say that we "deserved it" for our policy on asylum seekers and because Muslims the world over are outraged at the behavior of the Australian SAS in Timor, who should of course, be turned over to the International Criminal Court. Islam is overmatched militarily. But it is in the political realm that where we are in most peril.

[sofaman]

Corrections...sorry.

...condolences to all those killed...

This is a worldwide problem...

[armed_in_sydney]

i havent even turned on the television yet,but its all over every aussie web site.Any time anything happens regarding our relations with indonesia its all over the news.....i think itll be the biggest loss off australian life in non war time if reports are correct that 75% of victims are australian.

[sofaman]

Your comment really was unnecessary. Many have died in grotesque attack. Let's spare a thought and a prayer for the dead and the wounded.

[vbmoneyspender]

Is there a suspicion among Australians that the Indonesian military has been giving a wink and nod to the Islamic fundamentalists in Indonesia to commit acts of war like this?

[Mark17]

we were the leading forces in creating a seperate non-Islamic state in East Timor,not to mention that we are a staunch US ally in the war on terror.Words cant express my anger right now.Indonesia will not be allowed to forget this day.

Our sympathy to you and the rest of Australia. Words can't express our anger over 9/11 either, so we know exactly what you mean. We appreciate your support in the war on terror too.

Regards.

[sofaman]

Thanks for keeping us informed. I hope that Australia knows that we mourn with you.

[Numbers Guy]

I'm so sorry this has happened and I share your anger. Australia has been a good friend to us since 9/11 and before.

Exactly. Salt of the earth. We grieve with you.

[Travis McGee]

9-11 was unique in one way in that there were very few maimed and injured. The 3,000 were killed, period.

It's going to be VERY hard for Australians to bear the pain of not only the dead, but the maimed crippled and disfigured young people.