Monumental Disrespect in Bali

Everybody has their own opinion about the Bombing Memorial opposite Poppies Lane 2 and whether or not it is a good monument to those who lost their lives or that the funds could have been used for a better purpose.

Personally, I would have liked to have seen the money spent on the Bali Peace Park or at least in cleaning and the areas of the Sari Club and Paddy's, maybe erecting a smaller monument.

Now it seems the area surrounding October 12 Bombing Memorial now earns unwanted scrutiny for presence of beggars, touts and commercial sex workers according to the Bali Discovery.

The Regional Government of Badung in Bali has promised to continue and intensify steps to improve security and quality of the local environment surrounding the monument commemorating the victims of the October 12, 2002 terrorist bombing in Kuta.

The promise from local government authorities follows formal complaints made by the Consulate General for Australia in Bali concerning parking problems, beggars, commercial sex workers, beggars, touts and timeshare salespeople surrounding the monument area.

Government officials promise that enhancements in the area surrounding the monument should be completed by the end of September 2006.

Meanwhile local community leaders in Kuta have bemoaned the long-delayed promises of the regional government to improve the area pointing to the still derelict state of the now empty lots once occupied sites of the Sari Club and Paddy's Café.

Let me know what you think about all this?.