Bali Terror Mastermind Launches Coffee Brand, Sparks Controversy
The main perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Bali, Indonesia, which claimed over 200 lives in 2002, has started a coffee business, provoking outrage from the families of the victims.
According to a recent report by the Hong Kong media South China Morning Post (SCMP), Umar Patek, a key figure in the 2002 Bali terror attack, launched his own coffee brand named "RAMU Coffee 1966 by Umar Patek" in Indonesia.
"RAMU" is a play on "UMAR," spelled backward, and also means "mix" or "combine" in Indonesian.
Patek is a terrorist who committed a bomb attack in October 2002 at a popular nightclub in the Kuta area of Bali, resulting in 202 deaths and 209 injuries among foreign tourists. He was also involved in a series of bombings targeting 11 churches across Indonesia in December 2000.
From Terrorist to Coffee Entrepreneur
After years on the run, Patek was arrested in Pakistan in 2011 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, he was recognized as a model prisoner and released early in 2022. Following his release, he started a new life by launching a coffee brand.
While introducing the beans he personally roasts, Patek stated, "The bitter taste of the past (the bombs) took lives, but I hope the bitter taste of the present (the coffee) heals people."
Such remarks have been deeply hurtful to the families of the terror victims.
Sandra Thompson, an Australian woman who lost her 20-something son to the attack, expressed her anger, saying, "I wonder if he still believes what he did was right, especially considering the 202 lives lost and the unborn baby, as well as the many survivors who continue to suffer. I don’t know if he has truly paid for what he did."
In response, Patek argued, "I have apologized multiple times, both publicly and privately. If I apologize, people say it's 'strategic,' and if I don't, they call me 'arrogant.' I don’t know what to say."
He emphasized that this coffee business is "not just a coffee business, but a new life."
Indonesian restaurant firm 'Hedon Estate' introduced Patek’s brand on Instagram as "a cup of redemption and reflection," labeling it as "the coffee business of a former terrorist starting a second life."
However, public reactions have been largely negative. Netizens remarked, "I’m worried about how the victims feel," and "It seems the state is better at rehabilitating terrorists than helping victims."
Image sources: Umar Patek / gettyimagesbank, illustrative photos to aid understanding of the article / gettyimagebank, AI-generated image to aid understanding of the article / chatgpt.
