12 of October. 2002. A big crime was committed in that touristic island in the heart of Indonesia. Not far away from Australia (the West). In the day of Hispanity (Columbus day). But it not remembered at all. Because it was in the far side of the world? Bali has an specific characteristic that makes it completely different from the other Indonesian islands: there lives a majority of Buddhists on it, instead of the whole “nation”, where majority is Muslim. It is the first difference.
Bali is a center of tourism. Where all citizens of the world goes to have a nice time of spare time and holidays. All the non pureness of the West, the corruption, the vicious and all that the fundamentalists attack the “western way of life” is there… to make the people go and spend the money. Like Balear or Canary islands in Europe or Hawaii in America. And the local population is not “pure”. They are “non believers”. At least not in the same God. So there was an “ideal” place to attack…
Unfortunately to a quarter of thousand peoples it happened. More people died there than in the 11 M attacks in Madrid. Most of them Australians. During the second world war, while the Japanese advance through the Pacific fronts of war… it appeared the need of defense of the Australian sub continent. But as five star General Mac Arthur would say, the war of Australia will be fought in New Guinea (Instead of the Commonwealth plans to evacuate the North of Australia and expose a dogged defense in the South East, around the biggest cities and the major production lands). Maybe it has nothing in common… or maybe it has. Who knows.
The South East side of Asia and this Western region of the Pacific ocean will be very conflictive, because of there are two “European” nations (Australia and New Zealand) in the heart of another cultures. The closest one is Indonesia, Muslim, in the North. And in the days of the so called conflagration between the West and Islam… It is, at least, dangerous, and uncomfortable.
Who did it? It is said that Al Qaeda was behind the Bali terror. But let me say that the Australian Government after that was a solid defender of the United States coalition for Iraki Freedom Operation. Fighting in the war, with the third major Army on the front. And in the previous determination not to go on with the UNMOVIC inspections by the Hans Blix team or the Security Council determination not to let an unnecessary war (the worst moment in International Relationships). Maybe the Bali attack resumed Australians to follow the leader of the ancient called Phare of the “Free World”. I remember that a few weeks before the 9th of October 2004 National elections to Prime Minister a very big explosion in front of the Australian Embassy in Yakarta (Indonesia)… would have refreshed some ideas in the peoples mind. Maybe.
But as I say Bali has disappeared from the Bush and other western leaders references of the “attacks of terror” to our peaceful societies…
As Shakespeare would say, something smells wrong about Bali. And it could be not so estrange in certain future see a war between Australia and Indonesia. Moreover if the so called “fundamentalist Muslims” get the power in the biggest Islamic society (who is advocated to an economic crisis because of the Chinese pression of their larger and cheaper “workers army”, after when the people shall refugee in religion).
I wish the wave of good willing and open mind leaders could reach soon! Not to expose us to watch horrified what we do not want to see…
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