Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
Apr 18th, 2007, in News, by PatungOne Indonesian, Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan, was killed in the Virginia Tech massacre.
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantorian, 35, who was working towards a doctorate in civil engineering at Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, West Virginia, United States, was among 32 people shot to death by Cho Seung Hui, 23, a student who migrated with his family from South Korea when he was 8 years old.
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan.
Partahi had been studying in America since January 2005 and last contacted his family in West Medan, North Sumatra, to wish them a happy Easter on 8th April. suarapembaruan
Partahi’s body will need to undergo an autopsy before being returned to Indonesia.
27 Comments on “Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan”
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Arema says:
My deepest condolences.
This is one example of US’ too-much-freedom policy backfired. Guns should never be made available to public in the first place. Its destructive power is too overwhelming if misused, as in this case. US people can argue until the next millenium about the need of self-defense, but if there’s no people using gun in the first place, you don’t need to defend yourself using a gun right?
US’ too-much-freedom policy is slowly degrading what used to be a majestic country of opportunities. Let’s see next what disaster will too-much-free-sex, gambling, and legalized homosexual activity bring.
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Colson says:
@Arema: I beg your pardon??!!
You really think it’s right to put on one level the right to carry weapons (to settle private feuds by violence) and legalized homosexual activity (to settle love for a minority group)?! Another deplorable clash of ancient religion and modernity?
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Colson: When did I say that? O_O
You really think it’s right to put on one level the right to carry weapons and legalized homosexual activity ?
No. I’m against it.
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@Arema: I do not doubt you are ( like most sane people) against the freedom ( the right) of all US citizens to carry weapons. But, does not the last sentece in your previous comment indicate you condemn legalised homosexual activity ( and free sex and gambling) just as much?
Perhaps your phrasing is a figure of speech like irony or sarcasm. If that’s the case, I will hide away in a dark corner and be ashamed for not having noticed.
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McFadden says:
Arema,
If you only heard about USA from the mainstream media, you don’t know nothing about this country. You are very prejudice! Yesterday my husband, me and some friends had dinner in a restaurant and one of the waitress was a very nice Filipino lady, she said to us that America is a Holy country! By the way, I’m an Indonesian and here in USA, I’m surrounded by high morals and godly people.
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El Gran Combo Puertorico says:
“Homosexual activity” is an act of crime?
What is exactly a “homosexual activity”? I’m a homosexual, and when I do my job as a technologist, I’m doing my activity then (and remember, I’m homosexual), homosexual activity.
So, suddenly, whatever I do is a crime.
Geez, it never ceases to amaze me the way these kind of people think about homosexual.
Pobres indonesios, son muy cerrados.
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Aluang anak Bayang says:
May you rest in peace.
My deepest condolences for the families of the said deceased.
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Rockstar says:
First, my deepest condolonces to the victim’s family for the lost.
Second, I disagree with Arema.
This is one example of US’ too-much-freedom policy backfired. Guns should never be made available to public in the first place. Its destructive power is too overwhelming if misused, as in this case. US people can argue until the next millenium about the need of self-defense, but if there’s no people using gun in the first place, you don’t need to defend yourself using a gun right?
The gun did not kill people, it was people who kill people. That moron could get a gun in one or the other way. There is always a way to get a gun. How about in Indonesia, there is no policy saying you may get a gun. There’s no way in Indonesia that civilian can carry or own a gun. Except if you have a license that is so friggin hard to get. But still you see people were shot to death. It was the people. Don’t blame the tools.
Sex-related-issues arent imported from Americans. It’s been there for ages, remember the story of Sodom and Gomorah? I’m not being judgemental here, but that city were doomed and vanished, mainly it was because of sex related stuff.
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Seems like my comment offended some of you, my apologies.
Colson: sorry I misunderstood your question. Maybe free sex is just as dangerous as legalized guns. The other two is “much less damaging to society”, but still, for me, is morally incorrect, thus should be highly discouraged.
McFadden: I’ve been there, although for only a week, and thus maybe “not qualified to give a representative comment” for you. I can’t deny that in US, there’s of course a lot of nice people there. But look, the moral values are degrading at a worrying pace. If you watch US MTV, you’d know what I mean. Of course it is still “invisible” now, and most people on the streets are not like the one on TV, but I do think more and more are going toward that direction. And I’m sad to see that.
Puertorico: My apologies.
Rockstar: You are right, guns does not kill, people do. Guns can’t be blamed, since they are not alive, blame the people. True. But maybe you missed my point. I’m blaming government rules to make guns available to public, for whatever reasons. It is just make it all easier for those having bad intentions, such as this case. There are probably some positive points behind the policy (maybe, but I can’t see it), but the negatives far outweigh them, imho.
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Janma says:
The morals of Indonesia aren’t a shining beacon in the darkness either, by my way of seeing MR. Arema.
Janma.
*I may not agree with what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it.* -
Robert says:
Cho Seung Hui guy shouldn’t have had a gun in the first place. Due to a loophole in the law he managed to buy one. A judge ruled in december 2005 that Cho “presents an imminent danger to himself as a result of mental illness.”
Normally when someone wants to buy a gun he becomes subject to federal and state background checks. Althought this guy was seriously mental defective, the background checks turned up no problems, due to the fact that the federal and state authorities use a different definition of “mentally incapacitated”.
Guns do not kill, people do. The guns themselves don’t do anything, it needs one to pull the trigger. That is true, this argument is used by the National Rifle Association (NRA) to prevent any infringement on the constitutional right to carry a gun. Though I think that in a normal society guns should not be available to the general public, because owning a gun is the first step and using it will be the second with alot of misery as the result.
What is so troublesome, that Americans seem to be so obsessed about this right. On one hand Americans have made immense progress, for example on a technological level. On the other hand Americans are stuck in ancient times because they seem to cling to this right in an almost spasmodical manner.The constitutional right to carry a gun and mental illness are a lethal combination. We have seen many examples in US history that support this (Texas Tower sniper, Colombine Highschool). As long as the general public (and all the mental-defectives) have access to fire-arms we must prepare ourselves for future massacres like this and accept it as a (blood drenched) fact of life.
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Australian teacher says:
In my opinion it is the kind of fearful society that has been established in USA that leads to the possession of guns by people who have no possible excuse for owning what is a killing machine. “Guns don’t kill people, people do”, well, true, but so what? Knives or even baseball bats kill people too, but not so easily, not so many in such a short time, and leaving the killer more vulnerable to being overpowered or otherwise stopped.
I have many friends in USA, most of them are anti-gun ownership. I know that USA has been at times a force for good in the world. Sadly, these days it is turning in another direction.
I’m sorry, but I fail to see what homosexuality not being punished by the law has to do with murder. One is a private matter, nothing to do with anyone else, the other a public safety matter.
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Anna says:
Come on, why are we arguing about free sex and all the rest? This isn’t supposed to be about yourselves, there’s a fellow Indonesian dead from this tragedy for goodness sake.
My deepest condolescence for the victims of the tragedy, and for the family of Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbatoruan. May he rest in peace.
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Paguh Renata says:
Mora is my friend. I know him personally; he is a good guy.
Good bye my friend, rest in peace. -
Cukurungan says:
McFadden Said:
Yesterday my husband, me and some friends had dinner in a restaurant and one of the waitress was a very nice Filipino lady, she said to us that America is a Holy country! By the way, I’m an Indonesian and here in USA, I’m surrounded by high morals and godly people.
Cukurungan Say:
List American High Moral
1) No.1 number of prisoner by country
2) No. 1 rapes rate by country
3) Among countries with highest murder, abortion and teenage pregnancy rates.However, I fully agreed, if it is compared with Philipines, the best country in south east Asia, US still can be considered as “holy country”.
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Andrew says:
“Holy country” it is definitely is not, but it is one of the few countries on earth where you can stand up for your rights, where you get what you deserve.
I believe Saudi Arabia is the “holy country”, no? 😀
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Parvita says:
It’s scary, this Cho Seung Hui. I watched the video and there is so much rage in him, from his eyes and his voice. Seems like he has been bullied? Being a teenager in the states is really difficult when you are different or not good looking. “Welcome to the doll house” is a good movie showing how difficult to grow up in the states. I guess the pressure just hit the wrong button. Or the wrong person. Sounds like he has been hurt, deeply hurt.
What a waste of life. Mamora must be the Jewel of his family, coming from North Sumatra. THe familly must be proud of him and he must be really bright and lucky to be able to study in the US. May God bless those who he left behind. And also may God bless all who were killed.
This is very depressing.
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Dimp says:
I think some “lobbyist” has misinterpret the law for “one to bear arm”, this law was there since before the 1800 (1791 if I’m not mistaken), and was there to legalise the Yanks to defend themselves against the Brits. It has no bearing in the modern days. But as the NRA is too powerful (read: stinking rich), then there is no point arguing this now, not until the NRA has disbanded.
I read that there are approx. 200 million guns in the street of the good ol’ USA. No wonder there are around 30,000 deaths attributed to gun violence (including 30 children die everyday for this matter).
Shame on NRA.
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Dan says:
Hi all, I have a few comments to make. I worked with Mora (one of the victims). I’m a student at Virginia Tech and I feel that bashing the US isn’t what should be happening here. No one will ever agree on the gun matters. However, consider this: Guns are not allowed on a college campus (including VT), period. Two of the students killed had concealed weapons permits. What would have happened if they had guns to defend themselves? If you outlaw all guns, only outlaws will have guns. It is true that the United States isn’t as moral as she used to be, but there are still a majority of good, moral people here. I don’t bash Indonesia, Australia, or any other country. I accept them as a cultuer different to my own. Also, I haven’t noticed any of the world complaining when we bring our guns and homosexual military to get them out of trouble and/or protect them. Please, if you can’t give us your support, at least give us the respect of your silence for such a time as this.
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Hana says:
I agree with Anna. Regardless of political views, gun laws, or sexual orientation, a fellow Indonesian has passed away in the Virginia Tech tragedy. And I do not doubt that whether it’s America, Indonesia, or maybe any other country, people have all the same suffered loss in this tragedy.
So my heart goes out to all the victims and the family of VT victims.
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Joseph Erwin says:
This note is to acknowledge the life of Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan of Sumatera Utara and to express deepest sorrow over his death. I am so sad for his family, and regret so much that he could be the victim of violence in Blacksburg, Virginia, in the United states of America.
I urge that we not use this sad occasion as an opportunity to express hatred. I am sure Mora would not have wanted that.
But I think it can be appropriate for us to try to imagine how such a tragic waste as this can be avoided or prevented in the future. It is clear that Mr. Cho was filled with hate, and also true enough that he was treated hatefully by some other people. He was vulnerable to paranoid mental processes, and he did not receive the treatment that could have arrested his mental deterioration. He became at once a victim and vessle of hatefulness.
I think it should have been easier for him to receive help. I think it should have been not so easy for careless people to taunt and torture him without correction. I think it should have been more difficult for him to obtain highly destructive weapons and accessories–such as the extra large (illegal) cartridge magazines that enabled such efficient killing.
The intention of the 2nd Ammendment entitlement to “bear arms” was to assure that individuals and communities could have armed militias primarily to protect themselves from an oppressive government–to be able to protect liberty. Some Americans are stuck in the “wild west” of 100-200 years ago when guns superceded law enforcement. And for far too many Americans, guns are a part of “macho” image and pride and attempts to gain “respect” (by which is meant fear). Some American cities, including cities where hand guns are restricted, are very dangerous places, and in such places, ethnic hatred is rife.
The manufacturers and sellers of firearms certainly make every effort to promote an individual arms race in some parts of America through organizations like the NRA. Many politicians feel that they cannot afford to oppose free ownership of guns. Some of our presidents have been very pro-gun. “Pro-gun” and “pro-life,” is their slogan. How can that be? And how can we continue to find it acceptable?
We are now involved in Iraq, put there, sadly, but the deception of some of our leaders–and now there is no easy way out. The people of America are no longer in support of the leaders who started this war. We have elected other leaders to try to discontinue this. They do not yet have enough power to end the conflict. And it is hard to face the knowledge that when the American forces leave, Iraqis will continue to kill other Iraqis. Innocent Iraqis are being killed by others out of passionate hatefulness.
Oh how sad it is that such hatefulness can exist, in America, in Indonesia, in Iraq, and in other places. In every place we must learn to respect others, their beliefs and their cultures, but most of all, their individuality and their strengths. Hatred gives birth to more and more hatred. When will we learn? How can we learn?
My sisters and brothers from Indonesia, from America, and from everywhere else, I beg you to seek friendship and peace. I am sure that Mora was a man of peace who would have urged us to all get along with each other.
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Dan,
Some people here, just a small group of them, is too ignorant. They will love to bash the US for whatever the circumstances are. I think it’s really pathetic that they even did this in the midst of this terrible sadness.
I appologize for their stupidity and lack of conscience.
As I said in the previous post but I said this again, I offer my deepest condolonces to the family of the lost ones in particular and to all VT in general.
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It’s a bit simplistic to say abolish the laws enabling people in the US to carry guns. If they prohibit it then the mafia and other unscrupulous people will just make millions out of the illegal business of selling guns. All the good people will give in their side arms and all the crimminals will find a way around the law and so creating an inbalance where only the bad guys have the guns. Not good. Remember prohibition? It didn’t work…. the same goes for drug laws… it just creates criminals and creates more opportunities for them to make money. The solution is not an easy one.
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Faye says:
He was an amazing person. He did a lot for the community, and he was my family’s closest friend. he was super nice, and I don’t think that anyone didn’t like him. He was really friendly, and his parents loved him so so much. He was an active member in the community, and he was a beloved member of all of his friends families (including ours). everyone loved him. And the people who never met him, would’ve really loved him.
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Melisa Lumbantoruan says:
my dad knows him..
rest in peace
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That really sucks, does it ? When America sneeze, somebody in half way around the world feels pain.
My sympathy condolences!