October 2002 was the most dramatic moment in my life. It was my second year in Bali and I enjoyed very much staying in this paradise island.
Jump from one company to another company was the beginning of my career. I was 28 and Single that time. My energy space was more than enough to keep searching for the most comfort zone of living in Bali.
Moving…Keep Moving
Since I found a new job, I had to move to the nearest place from office. 1st October 2002, I moved to the rented house located in Jl. Pulau Pinang, Teuku Umar, Denpasar-Bali. I was happy with my new place, a building with Balinese architecture, facilitated by a brand new spring bed, a wardrobe, kitchen and a clean rest room.
My first morning in my new ‘palace’ was welcomed by the clear Bali blue sky. The weather was really beautiful that day. The best time for me to drive along Kuta to return the car I rented.
I heard a voice of a man came from the room next door. He talked to the group of children and shouted “Hey, come here. I have chocolate candies for you, kids!”. I saw the children approached him and thanked him.
I wondered what kind of guy he is. Giving little boys and girls chocolate candies? Is he a Santaclause coming to town or a Pedofillia trying to attract children by giving them free candies hehehe? Kinda weird…
3 weeks passed and still I had no time to socialize with people surround. Everyday I went to the office at 7 am and back home at night. Definitely had no time to say them Hi.
Saturday, October 11 (03.00pm)
When I grabbed a towel hanged in towel rack outside, a man lived next door to mine showed his face and said hi to me “Hi, do you live here? I live next door. I’m Andre. And you?”. I turned my head and said hi him back. The description of this man was less or more like this: Short (not so tall), age around 33, sharp eyes, wearing a shirt with the CONVERSE logo, and green cargo pants.
Here’s the detail of our conversation. He asked me questions which to me was a bit annoying and too forward:
Andre: “Where you come from?”
Me : “Bandung….”
Andre : “Oh, really. So you’re Sundanese, right? Me too. I’m from Banten”
Me : “Oh I see” (in a flat face expression)
Andre : “Where do you usually go on Saturday Night?”
Me: “Hmm, go with friends, hang out, go to cinema or take a walk around legian, Kuta”
Andre : “You like movie, huh? Hey I got some new movies and a player in my laptop. Would you like to borrow some?”
Me : “No..No thank you. I prefer to watch movies with friends”
Andre : ”Do you have plan tonight? Got a boy friend ? May I have your phone number?”
Me : “Yes I have boyfriend. Sorry I can’t. Maybe later”.
The longer conversation I had, the more uncomfortable I was. Then I decided to leave and said to him that I was in rush.
Saturday, October 12 ( ±20:00pm)
I heard a man knocking the door. Suddenly I realized that the voice is Andre’s. “What does he want?” I whispered to myself. I pretended was not at home and didn’t open the door until the last knock. Then I switched off the lamp with the hope he would thought there was nobody inside. Then I took a discman, listened to my favorite songs till I fell asleep…
Sunday, October 13 (±02:00pm)
In the late at night I was awaken from my sleep. I heard the sounds of ambulances and fire siren keep coming and go. My house wasn’t far enough from the main street so I could hear sirens clearly. “Uh, what happened outside there? it’s so noisy”. I made myself calm and went to sleep.
Sunday, October 13 (±06:00pm)
I was again awaken by another noisy thing. This time by the sound of my phone’s ring tone! I grabbed it and look at the screen. I found my uncle’s name. He’s someone who actually rarely called me. Then I picked it up. He said in a panic voice “G, all you right?”. I said “yes uncle James, I am alright. Why..Why asking me that? What’s wrong?”. Then uncle James’ voice turn calm “Oh, thanks God you’re ok. Hey, have you heard the news? Legian was bombed last night!”.
“What??!!!?? A Bomb? Oh No…. thanks anyway for telling me this, Uncle. I will check on TV”. I grabbed a remote and switched the television.
Like a nightmare in the morning! All local TV channels reported the live news from the spot. Paddy’s and Sari Club were Bombed and I saw on TV, hundred bodies…Burned! What a terrifying view….
Sunday, October 13 (±08:00am)
I walked outside my house to buy meals for my breakfast. I met Luh, the owner of boarding house I lived in. She told me that the guy next door to mine, Andre left the house this morning and back to their hometown in Java.
1 month after the bombing: The bombers found and arrested!
Once in the afternoon while I was sitting comfortably in front of TV, I switched the channel to the news program. The reporter announced in the headline “the Bali bombers: Imam Samudra and the team are arrested!
I was so shocked when I saw one of the bomber was shot in close up, I felt like I recognize the face and he looked familiar to me. With the same shirt and cargo pants that he worn a couple times ago, made me feel so sure that the guy announced as Imam Samudra was Andre. Yes Andre, the guy who used to lived next door. “Oh God! I know this guy…”
3 foreign journalist came to interview me
It didn’t take a very long time to get the new renter to replace the X- Andre’s room.Luh, the owner accepted a new renter named Shirley, the ethnic chinese woman. Luh said Shirly was very traumatic because of the bombing. Her old house located in Jl.Padma was near the ground zero (the place where the bombs exploded).
Oneday, I heard a group of people knocked Shirley’s room. Some of them spoke in English with Australian accent. Shirley opened the door and spoke to the guys. She answered “Sorry, I don’t know anything about this. Please ask the girl next door. Maybe she knows something. She’s been living here…long …long before I came here”.
Not long after the guys knocked my door and shouted “Excuse me…Anybody home?”. Then I opened the door. They interrogated me with some questions “Hi, we’re from Sidney Morning Herald. Do you Speak English? Shirley told us you know something about the former room renter. We’d like to ask you some questions. Do you have time for an interview?”
I introduced myself “Hi, Sure… Come on in but I can’t help you much. I don’t have useful information for you guys. I met the former renter only in one chance and had only short conversation with him”. Steven didn’t mind. I was again given more questions about what I know about Imam Samudra alias Andre.
By the way, the police and the journalist were informed by one of the neighbors who suspected Andre as Imam Samudra. Then they called the police, telling them the place Imam used to live.
******
There’s a question left in mind till now. Why Andre alias Imam Samudra knocked at my door couples of hours before the bombing? I think there are two possibilities: Andre tried to make an alibi by asking me to go out that night or he tried to tell me not to go out to Legian- Kuta, the bombing target.
Well, only God knows the truth but I am so grateful I am alive. I wasn’t in legian-Kuta when the bomb exploded.I am now happy because all the bombers have finally been executed to death. Something they deserved….for what they’ve done.
Peace Bali & The World! Say Big No To Terrorism!
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