Bali blast toll reaches 60, more bodies buried under rubble

The Jakarta Post ^

[hfartalot]

DENPASAR (JP): The number of casualties from the blasts in Indonesia's Bali tourist island continued to grow, with the latest report saying 60 had been confirmed dead by 1:42 a.m.

Meanwhile hospitals here were busy treating the wounded. At Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar alone around 160 people had been brought in. Two more hospitals, the Army Hospital on Jl. Sudirman and Graha Asih Hospital in Nusa Dua tourist resort, had received 20 victims each.

Many more bodies were expected to be found from under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The blast on Jl. Legian in the crowded Kuta tourist resort had also caused fire, which spread to neighboring buildings. At 1:48 a.m. fire fighters were still trying to put out the fire.

Police meanwhile said the first blast that occurred in Renon, south of here, was quite far from the U.S. consulate general. Earlier reports said it was near the U.S. consulate general. No casualties or damage were reported from the Renon blast, which police described as minor.

"The blast took place on the side of the road and there was no one injured because the home-made bomb was apparently thrown and exploded some 250 meters from the U.S. consulate general," Bali Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Suyatmo said.

The larger explosion on Jl. Legian was suspected to have come from a car bomb. The car was allegedly parked at Bank Panin.

The blast badly damaged both the Padi Club and the Sari Club across the street, a popular hangout of foreign tourists, damaging several cars parked on the street.

"I believe that the blast was caused by a home-made bomb," Suyatmo told AFP.

Meanwhile many foreign tourists had left their hotels to visit hospitals in search of news of their relatives and families.

Many of the victims were foreigners holidaying in the tourist island.

Indonesia has been rocked by a series of bomb blast, but until last night Bali had remained unaffected.

[areafiftyone]

Bush had said to the Europeans and other countries that they could be next. They all thought they were exempt because the Muslims supposedly hate only America and Israel. There will probably be alot more all around the globe. The Euroweenies need to wake up. Even though this is in Bali and not on the continent. They will not be safe whereever they take their holiday. The Muslims want to take over the world just like the Nazis and now are going to start terror to do this. If the Euroweenies want to keep their countries and people safe they better get ON BOARD with Bush! But regardless I pray for the families of the dead and the injured in Bali and in Finland. Noone should have to go thru this. The Islamists need to be exterminated like the cockroaches they are.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Islamists need to be exterminated like the cockroaches they are.

Right on!

Their approach is not very bright though!
They really are going to help build the coalition to exterminate themselves!

[areafiftyone]

They are showing pictures on Fox News right now. It is horrible. This makes me so angry when I see this. Fox is saying that they are trying to create another Taliban state. Idiots don't seem to remember what happened to the first Taliban. Well they just signed their own death warrant.

[Grut]

Do we know for a fact that this is Islamist terrorism? Seems to me there are all kinds of people in that part of the world who think they have a reason to blow up all kinds of other people.

[VRWC For Truth]

Islam - the religion of peace, more like blown to pieces. Bastards.

[tonyinv]

Only problem with this is that the EU and everyone else will blame US for their terrorism problems. They will say that if we weren't acting like cowboys with regards to Iraq this wouldn't be happening.

No matter what happens, you must rememeber, its ALWAYS our fault.

[LenS]

Indonesia is a Muslim majority state. In fact, it's the most populous Muslim state. Islamic fundamentalists are engaged in fights all over the archipegalo. They've also been threatening and attacking foreign tourists. Ergo, they are clearly the most likely suspects.

[areafiftyone]

Yes they mentioned the Islamic group and their spiritual leader. He supports Bin Laden and also wants to start a Taliban state. This guy is very well known there.

[areafiftyone]

Jemaah Islamiyah -- which is allegedly seeking to set up an Islamic state in Southeast Asia is responsible and has said so.

[xp38]

Exactly...following the pattern that has been in Egypt.

[areafiftyone]

We haven't done anything in Iraq yet and this is going on anyways. The EU is a crock of bull!!

[Joe Boucher]

If it can be proved beyond any doubt, the islamists have a serious P.R. problem. How to make the world be on their side when they are murderous animals hell bent on destroying anyone not muslim.

[John_11_25]

From the CIA World Fact book

Indonesia

Population:

231,328,092 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

1.54% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 21.87 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 6.28 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: NA under 15 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA total population: NA

Infant mortality rate: 39.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.63 years female: 71.13 years (2002 est.) male: 66.24 years

Total fertility rate: 2.54 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.05% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 52,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,100 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian

Ethnic groups: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%

Religions: Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998)

Languages:

Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese

[John_11_25]

and has said so.

WHEN ?

[Pearls Before Swine]

If it can be proved beyond any doubt, the islamists have a serious P.R. problem. How to make the world be on their side when they are murderous animals hell bent on destroying anyone not muslim?

Dream on, Joe, I'm sad to say. The proof is there, plain for all to see, but large portions of the Western world refuse to see it. (I didn't say non-Muslim world, because the Hindus clearly get the message.) For example, look at Israel and Palestine. Or, the behavior of Muslim immigrants in France, Denmark, or Australia. Or consider the death fatwa issued today on Falwell, Robertson, and Graham. Some people don't want to be confused by facts.

[hinckley buzzard]

Islamists don't "want the world on their side." They want the world on its back, throat cut, lying in a pool of its own blood.

[Joe Boucher]

I know many Indian Hindus and they are hard working honest and fine folk. To a one they all say the Pakistani muslims are crazy and all want to die for their casue by taking out as many of the infidels as they can.

[areafiftyone]

I heard this on Fox News unless the girl got it wrong but I doubt she is wrong (DO YOU?). They have confirmed the Helsinki one was terrorism why would't this one be? There were two bombs set off here and one close to the U.S. Embassy if that isn't muslim extremists I don't know what is.

[areafiftyone]

I know many Indian Hindus and they are hard working honest and fine folk.

So do I. Most of them are peace loving people who just want to make a better life for themselves.

[jimtorr]

Do we know for a fact that this is Islamist terrorism?

Yes, we know for certain.

[Oberon]

I know many Indian Hindus and they are hard working honest and fine folk. To a one they all say the Pakistani muslims are crazy and all want to die for their casue by taking out as many of the infidels as they can.

That's because they know their history.

The history of Islamic expansion into Hindu kingdoms is an unbroken narrative of atrocity.

[Cicero]

I must admit that I always thought that the violence in India was a two-way street. India has occasionally been the aggressor, in Nepal, in Sikkhim, in Goa. And they chose the wrong side in the Cold War and marshalled the third world in opposition to the United States.

Still I'm beginning to think I was wrong. The Muslims are really impossible to live with.

[mikeIII]

Do we know for a fact that this is Islamist terrorism?

Are you serious? You haven't heard of recent reports of Islamic terrorism in Indonesia - kidnapped and murdered Christians, Westerners, Al Qaida attacks there?

[Oberon]

I must admit that I always thought that the violence in India was a two-way street.

It's an apples-and-oranged comparison... I'm talking about history contemporaneous with the late middle ages.

[Brad C.]

Still I'm beginning to think I was wrong. The Muslims are really impossible to live with.

It is going to get much harder my friend. Think of all the cells in tehUS that have been following the "sniper" in MD. Just adding new ideas to their little notebooks.

[John_11_25]

No I do not believe she is wrong, I do think it is terrorism.

I was just looking for the link or actual quote from the extremists.

You know what its like in the US, the Terrorists would have to take an Ad in the New York Times to tell everyone it was terrorism and they did it, before the government would aknowledge it and even then they would say we still need to investigate.

[Lx]

Today's Sacramento Pravda says the death toll is 187. It's an AP story here:

http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/front/

[areafiftyone]

They said the Indonesian government will be letting them know soon who was responsible. These are the people who are in denial about their country. They are so afraid of a backlash from the general muslim population. I am so sick of these extemists. Maybe I am biased because of Sept. 11th and being in the midst of it when it happened but I see all those people dying and it brings back memories. I pray for the victims and their families. :-(

[Sally II]

Muslim 88%

That's a pretty high percentage. And I'll bet a large percentage of that group can't stand seeing infidels dancing and having a good time in their country. They're such a cheerless group of people. Anyhow, I feel sorrow for all those young people who died violently and senselessly. After 9-11, I feared that we would see smaller random attacks in America, much like what Israel has to deal with on a regular basis. That may still come. But, it looks like the problem is much more global than I first thought. I thought Israel and America would be the main targets. I get the impression that Australia has a lot of anti-war peacenicks -dispite the fact that there are daily posts on here about the problem of Muslims gang raping in Australia. I'd like to think that this event will turn some of those people around.