Ceremonies mark 2002 Bali bombings

Survivors, families, volunteers and government officials have marked the sixth
anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombings with a moving ceremony in Bali.
Around 100 people, including up to 30 Australians representing half a dozen victims,
took part in the low-key 45-minute ceremony in the memorial garden of the Australian
Consulate on Sunday morning (Bali time).
Many were reduced to tears as they laid flowers at a cross erected to remember the
202 killed when terrorists exploded twin bombs on October 12, 2002. Eighty-eight
Australians were among the dead.
Australian Ambassador Bill Farmer said Indonesia could be assured Australia would
remain by its side as it continued its ongoing fight against terrorism.
"These were attacks on a friend, attacks on a neighbour," he said.
He read a short statement from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, expressing the
thoughts and sympathies of the entire nation.
"For those who lost loved ones, life will never be the same," Mr Rudd's statement said.
"We think of the families and friends of the victims.
"Our thoughts and sympathies will always be with them."
He said Australia could, six years after the blasts, be proud of how we responded to
this terrible moment in our history.
"We showed the courage and the strength, compassion and friendship that we are known
for.
"We can also be proud that the partnership between Indonesia and Australia is the
strongest it has ever been."
Bali Governor Mangku Pastika, who led the police investigation which caught the Bali
bombers, said the tragedy was beyond imagination.
"For a long time we considered Bali the most peaceful place, as a paradise," he said.
"(It) suddenly changed, became hell.
"The tragedy very soon made us realise the dark side of our own lives."
Several other memorial services have been planned across the resort island,
including a night vigil later this evening.
The anniversary comes as Indonesia again prepares to execute the three main players
in the attacks, Islamic extremists Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Mukhlas.
In Sydney, hundreds gathered on the city's coast to mark the anniversary of the 2002
Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people, including 88 Australians.
Twenty of the dead were from Sydney's eastern suburbs of Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar
and Matraville.
Six of those lost were members of the Coogee Dolphins rugby league club.
Family and friends of the victims and survivors gathered in the solemn 45-minute
ceremony Sunday at Dolphin Point, on the north point of Coogee Beach.
NSW Premier Nathan Rees gave a brief speech followed by speeches from Hannah Singer,
who lost her brother Tom Singer in the blasts, and Ross McKeon who lost his wife and
daughter and was injured himself.
Mr McKeon told the crowd of mourners his family heard the first blast moments before
the second bomb went off.
"As we turned away I can still remember the whiplash and the roof collapsing," he said.
"On that night I had half my soul torn away."
Following the ceremony, mourners lined up to place flowers at the memorial which was
constructed for the one year anniversary of the bombings.