Bali guards for terror as bombs remembered

Bali's governor, who was chief investigator of the Bali bombings, has called for compassion in the face of a new radical movement, the Islamic State group.

Bali's governor has called for understanding to stop the poisonous seed of the Islamic State group (IS) taking root in Indonesia, at a time of year forever linked to terror on the island.

For Governor I Made Mangku Pastika, October 1, the day terrorists struck Bali in 2005, killing 20 people, and October 12, when 202 people died in bombings in 2002, are reminders of the senseless nature of such violence.

Now, IS - known also as ISIS or ISIL - has encouraged supporters to kill American, Australian, French and Canadian citizens in revenge for military action.

But the governor says the group has not been discovered in Bali, and stresses it is safe for foreigners.

"We cannot stop people coming to Bali, we do not know exactly what is in their hearts," he said.

"This is a tourist island.

"However, we owe it to the community to be more careful."

Bali police are stepping up passport checks after four foreigners suspected of having IS links were caught on the island of Sulawesi, travelling with forged documents.

The governor, who was police commissioner and chief investigator of the bombings, hopes IS ideology will not prosper in Indonesia.

"Even though it's only a seed, it exists," he said.

"What we hope is that it shall not grow, with the understanding that such things are of no use at all."

Stopping terrorism meant recognising why people were attracted to it in the first place.

"Poverty, injustice, democracy and so many things I think are related to this movement, this problem," he said.

"I hope that all Indonesian people, especially those who are in Indonesia but are not necessarily Indonesian, and who are living, especially in Bali, I hope they will continue tolerance, democracy, brotherhood and solidarity."

The Bali bombings killed 88 Australians in 2002 and four in 2005.


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