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Max Boon: For the love of Indonesia…
Dutchman Max Boon, who survived the 2009 terrorist attack on Jakarta’s JW Marriott Hotel, had all the reasons in the world to turn his back on Indonesia
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utchman Max Boon, who survived the 2009 terrorist attack on Jakarta’s JW Marriott Hotel, had all the reasons in the world to turn his back on Indonesia. But he did return, determined to live life to its full potential.
Max Boon and Ria Heilena Pratiwi. JP/J.ADIGUNA
Max Boon’s passion for Indonesia has given him the strength to help the country convey the following message to the world: Terrorism fails to ignite and spread fear.
“If I am afraid, the terrorists will win... Terrorism is everywhere, but don’t let them scare you,” said Boon in an interview during his visit early this month.
“I’ve passed the location [of the bombings] many times [during visits to Jakarta since the terrorist attack], and I feel normal,” said Boon, who speaks impeccable Indonesian.
Boon also plans to meet with the terrorists’ family one day, and share with them his conviction that resorting to acts of terrorism is the wrong way to fight for a cause.
Boon, who at that time worked as an executive with major consulting firm Castle Asia, was attending a breakfast meeting with a group of his business associates in one of the hotel’s restaurants when suicide bombers belonging to an Islamic extremist group blew themselves up almost simultaneously at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Kuningan on July 17, 2009.
Four of Boon’s associates lost their lives in the blast while others were seriously injured.
At the time of the explosion, Boon lost consciousness for half a minute before waking up to find his left leg barely attached to his body and his right arm badly wounded.
He was evacuated from the hotel into the street before being rushed in a security van to the nearby MMC hospital.
“As I lay on the street I shouted out two things: Kenapa? [why] and Saya masih cinta Indonesia [I still love Indonesia],” recalled Boon.
“I guess I wanted the world to know I do not blame Indonesia or Indonesians for what happened... These words came from my deep love for Indonesia based on my experience living here.”
While refusing to blame any party for the attack, Boon believes poverty may be the root of the problem.
“It’s not about blaming anyone... This young fellow was receptive to teachings from hardliners encouraging him to blow himself up. Reducing poverty could cut down a lot of the breeding grounds for such acts.”
Despite his physical limitations, Boon has pledged to promote Indonesia overseas, in an effort to bring much-needed foreign investment into the country, create jobs and reduce poverty.
“A country as big as Indonesia faces numerous challenges. It’s not easy [to manage]... I fully understand it may be better for Indonesia to take small steps than try to run and fall over,” he said.
Having studied Indonesian language and culture at Leiden University, the Netherlands, much of Boon’s vocational background and work experience has been focused on Indonesia. His passion for the archipelago stems from his childhood, when a family friend showed him a video on Indonesia.
Born on Nov. 20, 1975, Boon first came to Indonesia in 1997 as part of his graduate degree.
He made several short trips afterwards, and decided to live there on a more permanent basis in 2004, working for several consulting firms.
Many of Boon’s friends refer to him as one of a few “Indonesianists”, because of his broad understanding of the nation’s political, economic and cultural spheres.
“I feel very much at home here because of the people and the country’s great potential,” said Boon explaining the reasons for his return to Indonesia.
“This country has witnessed many natural and human disasters. But despite all this, people are still optimistic and willing to work hard for their future. I admire that.”
Seven months after the ordeal, Boon returned for the first time to Indonesia to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Prior to that, he had exchanged letters with Yu-dhoyono, who wept upon receiving Boon’s letter congratulating him on Indonesia’s 64th anniversary of independence.
“Indonesia is not a dangerous place to live in,” said Boon after meeting the President.
“I also thanked him for keeping his word in bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
For Boon, finding the will to live and revive his passion for Indonesia was no small feat.
A few days after being hospitalized in Jakarta, Boon was flown to Singapore’s National University Hospital for further treatment because he was still in a critical condition.
Around 70 percent of his body had been burned with countless amounts of shrapnel, one of which is still in his heart.
Both of his legs were amputated, his right arm was broken in several places and his muscles and nerves severely damaged.
Boon did not regain full consciousness until more than two weeks after the blast.
“My mother was there [when I was conscious again] and told me what had happened. I immediately remembered... And then I tried to move my legs but couldn’t. Then she told me they had been amputated.”
“I whispered to my mother [if I didn’t have legs] there would no longer be any reason for me to live... But then she convinced me there were many reasons to enjoy life… And she was right... I will make the best out of it.”
Aside from receiving support from family and friends, Boon’s recovery was also very much boosted by his longtime sweetheart Ria “Maria” Heilena Pratiwi, 25, a West Sumatran native from a devoted Muslim family.
Maria quit her promising career with an international fashion design company to be by his side.
“At that time, I had complicated decisions to make, I had to decide whether to take care of Max full time or pursue my career. And I chose to take care of him because he has been an inspirational figure for me,” said Maria, who met Boon in 2007.
A few months after the bombing, Maria moved to the Netherlands to help Boon get through the emotional and physical pain, while grappling with her own grief after her father passed away in September last year.
“It was the hardest moment of my life... But whatever state Max is in now, I will never leave him,” said Maria recently.
Maria confided that during her stay with Boon, she consistently encouraged him to enjoy life despite physical impediments and trauma.
“Max was already feeling better emotionally when I arrived. But I kept telling him to never give up, and that he could still enjoy life. As you can see, he was very determined from the beginning,” said Maria.
Boon proposed to Maria on Dec. 31 in the romantic Kampveersche Toren tower in Veere, the Netherlands, with five people carrying Boon to the top of the tower.
“Being lifted up the stairs was probably the scariest part. My mother and I were very nervous the whole time… We were worried Maria would turn me down because of my condition. But it all ended happily,” said Boon.
The couple is slated to tie the knot some time next year after Boon completes his rehabilitation program at the Militair Revalidatie Centrum in Doorn, the Netherlands, and following the installment of his new artificial legs.
The couple is hoping to eventually live and raise a family in Indonesia.
“You just have to live in a positive way, and never give up on something you love,” said Boon.
