by David Biles
The 22nd assembly of the Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators held at the Bali Hilton International Hotel, Nusa Dua, Indonesia, from 13 to 19 October 2002 was undoubtedly another great success, despite the horrific terrorist bombing that occurred on 12 October just a few kilometres away from the conference location. Conference delegates were acutely aware of the atrocity which claimed nearly 200 lives and injured twice as many, but, with one exception, all delegations stayed to see the conference through. It was widely felt that to abandon the conference would be seen as surrendering to the terrorists.
The conference was hosted by Mr Adi Sujatno, the Director General of Corrections for Indonesia, and was officially opened by The Honorable Prof. Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the Minister for Justice and Human Rights for Indonesia.
The conference was attended by delegations from 21 nations or regions, which was equal to the highest number since it was established in 1980. For different reasons, all unrelated to the bombing, three other nations decided not to attend and this prevented a new record being set. Even with 21 nations, which included China and India, the governments of approximately one half of the total population of the world were represented by the delegations attending.
The conference itself considered four substantive agenda items:
1. Contemporary Issues in Corrections,
2. The Outsourcing of Correctional Services,
3. Recruitment, Training and Career Development of Correctional Staff, and
4. The Reception and Classification of Prisoners as the Key to Rehabilitation.
In addition, two specialist workshops discussed:
1. Correctional Standards, Service Quality, Benchmarking and the Risk of Reoffending, and
2. Community Participation and Engagement in Corrections.
All participating delegations prepared detailed papers which were circulated to all participants. These papers will eventually be published on the APCCA web site <www.apcca.org>. A draft report of the conference was circulated to all delegates before their departure, and a final report is to be published by the Indonesian hosts in early 2003. This will also be circulated as well as published on the APCCA web site.
In addition to the formal conference discussions, delegates were taken on professional visits to two prisons on the island of Bali as well as to the Denpasar Court and other places of cultural interest. A separate program of visits for spouses was also provided. Generous hospitality in the form of formal and informal dinners was provided by the hosts on five of the six nights of the conference, and at most of these dinners traditional Balinese dancers and other actors entertained the guests. For a Balinese Village theme dinner, delegates were required to wear an APCCA 22 polo shirt, sarong and udeng (an Indonesian head scarf). Special shirts were also provided for other occasions.
At the conclusion of the conference all delegates expressed their warm appreciation of the hospitality of Adi Sujatno and also congratulated his team of conference organisers, led by Pak Ambeg. Finally, the delegates unanimously voted to donate $10.000 (US) from the APCCA Fund to the Balinese victims of the bombing.