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HOME > Families > Publications > Annual Report 2003 > Bali |
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Bali |
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'The purpose of today's gathering is to express and record the community's thanks for the profoundly humanitarian contribution made (and still being made) by Victorians to Australia's Disaster Victim Identification efforts. I am here, as Chief Justice of Victoria, to acknowledge their devotion and the application of their skills in very adverse circumstances. You will, I am sure, join me wholeheartedly in this acknowledgment. You people, who know full well the benefits to the living and to society of the proper examination of violent deaths will fully understand why, in my description of events in Bali, I will use plain language and no euphemisms. The benefits I have referred to include the sure identification of those killed as a prerequisite for families to mourn together with an essential contribution to the advancement of justice so that those criminally responsible for such deaths have just punishments visited upon them. In addition to acknowledging those here who went to Bali, it is proper that I also pay tribute to the cooperation and support provided by the Indonesian authorities in all aspects of the response to this disaster. For those who did not go there let me describe a typical day in Bali for the teams that went there. The day would start at 6.30am with a Team Leader's meeting, representing the different phases of the DVI operation: scene, mortuary, ante-mortem records and reconciliation. After breakfast, the team would muster at the front of the Partika Plaza Hotel for the 30 minute drive to the Denpasar Hospital mortuary. At the mortuary there were two teams. Each team comprised:
In addition there were, variably, 6-8 dentists, working in pairs, charting the teeth and taking x-rays with portable x-ray machines. The pathologist was often supported with a second pathologist eg from Sweden, UK or Taiwan. Indonesian pathologists were also present making relevant observations, as were groups of Indonesian medical students. Indonesian, Japanese and Taiwanese dentists were also involved. The teams would walk between the rows of body bags in the open, covered with ice, from the changing area to the mortuary itself. Teams of Indonesian volunteers would continually ensure the bodies were covered with ice and that the passage ways and mortuary were as clean and dry as possible. There was criticism in the Australian media of the use of ice, but those who went to Bali would know that this was unwarranted. Included in this group were occasional Australian volunteers. One such person was a West Australian midwife who had simply got on a plane to Bali, turned up to the mortuary, rolled up her sleeves and got on with it. She became the de facto leader of the volunteers, many of whom on some occasions were young women. An Australian Army Captain was also in the mortuary because of his language skills. He is said to have been built like a rugby forward prop. With his strength, he also was tremendously helpful assisting in moving bodies with the team of Indonesian helpers. The mortuary superintendent, an Indonesian, was amazing in his capacity to get things done. The mortuary had only a trickle of running water. Three or four fans were set up and running most of the time. There were 25-30 workers in the mortuary at any one time which was the size of perhaps half to two thirds this foyer. Included also was all the kit that could be gathered (gloves, specimen jars, cameras, swab sticks, autopsy equipment, Interpol DVI forms). A section was set aside for photography of any jewellery, clothing, or other property which was found. There were three mortuary tables. The deceased's number would be checked. If there was any confusion about this, a new number would be allocated. The deceased would be photographed, an external examination performed by the pathologist, and the results dictated to the DVI note taker. Relevant samples would be collected. Belongings or other property would be described and photographed. Fingerprint impressions were taken, when applicable. The deceased was then taken to a separate part of the mortuary for dental examination. The dentists worked in pairs to ensure accuracy of the examination, since an incorrectly described or recorded dental feature can have catastrophic effects on the future of correlation (or reconciliation) with ante-mortem dental records. Dental radiographs were also taken using portable machines, in the event that ante-mortem dental x-rays might exist. The deceased would then be returned whence s/he came. This process was repeated over 8 days until all the remains were examined. The process of collecting the ante-mortem information was also underway. This is the information, such as dental and medical records as well as other identifying information, which is compared with the information gleaned from the post mortem or mortuary phase. This information, which included photographs, x-rays, dental moulds, fingerprint records amongst other things, was collected on a state by state basis, sent to the AFP in Canberra and from there to Bali. This information eventually found its way to the reconciliation room at the Denpasar Hospital, a short distance from the mortuary. The reconciliation process - that is the matching of post mortem findings with ante mortem records and information - is a massive administrative exercise involving also expert judgement about what is, maybe or is not a match. In recent years, of course, the advent of DNA techniques has added significantly to the confidence of this process. Be that as it may, over half the identifications were made primarily on the basis of dental comparisons. The complete reconciliation process with the constant checking and rechecking that is required, usually takes longer than the scene and mortuary phase of the operation - and that has been the case in Bali as well. It has to be said on an occasion like this that the work of the Indonesians involved deserves high commendation. Their efforts to keep the deceased in the best possible condition under trying circumstances were unstinting. Enormous quantities of ice were produced at short order, and consumed, for this purpose. Their willingness to accept such a substantial overseas presence deserves the highest recognition. There was also a multinational contribution to the Australian and Indonesian effort. Professionals from Sweden, UK, Taiwan, Japan and the US were included. Coroners from Australia, UK and Canada attended. Ambassadors from Australia and Britain visited the mortuary. The Victorian DVI teams formed part of a nationwide response. Police, forensic odontologists, forensic pathologists and other forensic experts from every state took part at some stage during the exercise. In Victoria, staff came from Victoria Police (including the Victorian Forensic Science Centre), the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the State Coroners Office. It is important to remember however that “they also serve who remain.” Significant pressures were placed on staff left here at home base to pick up the work of their absent colleagues. Also, there were vital functions being performed domestically supporting the work in Bali - for example the collection and collation of ante-mortem information.' VIFM volunteers in Bali
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A number of Institute staff comprising pathologists, odontologists and forensic technicians undertook tours in Bali, Indonesia assisting in the forensic investigation of the Bali bombing incident which resulted in the loss of some 202 lives. One of the most important tasks was assisting in the identification of individuals so they could be repatriated to their various homelands. At a special event held at the Institute in October 2002 to recognise the work of all Victorians involved in this task, the chair of the Institute Council, John Phillips, noted the following: