Badung, Bali. Survivors and families of victims of the 2002 Bali bombings gathered at a memorial in Kuta on Monday to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the attacks, calling for peace as conflicts continue to affect parts of the world.

The group held a prayer ceremony and scattered flowers at the Bali Bombing Memorial, also known as Ground Zero, on Legian Road in Badung regency. The annual gathering honors the victims of the Oct. 12, 2002, attacks, which killed 202 people from 22 countries and injured 324 others.

Haji Bambang, a volunteer at the memorial, said the anniversary was an opportunity to remind the international community of the importance of peace amid geopolitical tensions and conflicts between countries.

“Peace is something very precious today, as conflicts are unfolding in many parts of the world and making life more difficult for people,” Bambang said.

“From this memorial, on the 24th anniversary of this tragedy, we are sending a message to the international community: peace,” he added.

Bambang said peace was essential to stability and would allow people to carry out their work and plans more effectively.

The memorial in Legian, a popular tourist area in Bali, has become a focal point for annual commemorations of the attacks, which targeted two nightspots in Kuta and shocked Indonesia and the international community.

Survivors and relatives gathered at the memorial to remember those who died and renew their call for peace.

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