Indonesia marks 20th anniversary of 2003 JW Marriott hotel bombing
The tragedy should serve as a "rearview mirror", says a counterterrorism official.
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has urged all parties to remember the 2003 JW Marriott Jakarta hotel bombing tragedy as a lesson that should not be repeated.
Brigadier General R. Achmad Nurwahid, BNPT’s Director of Deradicalisation, underscored the importance for deradicalisation partners, survivors and law enforcement agencies to regard this tragedy as a “rearview mirror” and to come together in shaping the future.
“Much like a car’s rearview mirror, this incident constantly reminds us of the lessons to be learned,” he said in a statement.
“We must prevent its recurrence. Survivors, deradicalisation partners, law enforcement, including BNPT, unite in our shared pursuit of the future.”
Umar Patek, a former member of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terror network who has successfully undergone a deradicalisation programme, expressed gratitude for terror survivors and victims’ family members’ forgiveness to him.
He reminded society, especially the youth, not to be exposed and to be indoctrinated into committing violent acts.
“Whoever it may be, especially the younger generation, do not engage in acts of terrorism. Terrorism stands in stark contrast to the teachings of Islam,” said the former convict in the statement.
Umar was convicted in 2012 for his involvement in the 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia, which killed 202 people.
On Aug 5, 2003, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside the lobby of the JW Marriott Jakarta hotel, killing 12 people and injuring 150.