One would have thought that when the survivors and mourners of the 2002 Bali bombings gathered for a ceremony at the memorial site in Kuta yesterday, it would be free from any sort of drama. But sadly that was not the case.
A foreign male was arrested by the Kuta Police for having reportedly caused a public disturbance when he shouted out loud as people gathered at the Ground Zero Bali Bombing Memorial yesterday to mark the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.
The 41-year-old British man, identified as TD, brought pamphlets to the ceremony, one of which was titled, “The Truth About Bali Bombings.” He caused a nuisance by babbling unproven theories about what really happened behind the attacks.
Attendees were irked by how TD was being disrespectful toward the victims, survivors, and other mourners, who, at the time, were praying together. TD kept on shouting even after the attendees asked him to leave.
Bali Police spokesman Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto told Coconuts that the culprit was arrested and that he is currently under investigation.
The clip of the incident went viral on several social media accounts with captions suggesting that the man was inebriated.
Thiolina Marpaung, a survivor of the terrorist attack who now chairs Yayasan Istri Suami Anak (Isana) Dewata, a network of survivors of the 2002 Bali bombings, confirmed that the disturbance occured while survivors and mourners prayed together in a moment of silence.
“If there is anything that [TD] wants to address, [he should] address it elegantly,” she said.
