Violence in Bali<\/p>\n
I write this letter as one who has had the privilege to know
\nBali in a different light. As a very young boy, my parents
\nbrought me to see and know the wonders of a different culture.<\/p>\n
I do not smoke or drink and prefer the beauty of scenery to
\nthe other offerings of such places as Kuta, Bali. However, on
\nAug. 29, 1998, a Saturday afternoon, I was giving a ride by
\nmotorbike to help another person collect some belongings from
\nwhere they stay in Kuta. Here is my experience.<\/p>\n
As I was entering a small lane, there were many dogs blocking
\nmy path. I slowed down and negotiated the hazard as best I could.
\nA mishap occurred when one of the dogs collided with my motor
\nbike. I stopped. The dog appeared to be OK, so I was about to
\nproceed. Suddenly a man came at me with very abusive language
\n(using English), then punched me. I was very shocked, and asked
\nwhy he was behaving like this.<\/p>\n
It appeared he was the owner of the dog. He became even more
\nabusive and aggressive and hit me a second time. I got off the
\nmotorbike, he approached me to hit me again, so I defended
\nmyself. Then I was attacked from behind. I turned and was
\nconfronted by two more assailants, being friends of the first
\nperson. One of them was armed with a bottle. All three attacked
\nme, again I defended myself as best I could. In the process, I
\nwas punched and kicked repeatedly, and hit by the bottle and a
\nmotorbike helmet. Later in the evening, I was treated at Denpasar
\nhospital for concussion.<\/p>\n
Luckily, however, I was able to escape from this incident. I
\nmade a report at the Kuta police station, where I was asked for
\nmoney and kept for seven hours with the feeling that I was not to
\nbe released at all that night. My passenger, being a witness was
\nalso asked for money. The witness is staying in the same complex
\nas the three suspects and duly was very worried about returning
\nthere. We telephoned the police and were assured the three
\nassailants were still in custody.<\/p>\n
On our arrival, two of the three men were sitting outside
\ntheir room. Only by the help of an Indonesian friend was I able
\nto leave the police station. The next day I was too ill to return
\nto Kuta, and when the police were phoned to ask about my needing
\nto return, they stated \"make sure you bring money with you\".<\/p>\n
I have since retained legal representation. The police are now
\nsaying it is the word of three (one of whom is known to police as
\na troublemaker) against two. The police are indicating they
\nbelieve these three men over myself and the witness and I may be
\nthe one who faces charges. This, in my belief, is because I gave
\nno money. Sadly, I found out two of the three men are of Chinese
\nancestry.<\/p>\n
I was a victim but treated as a wrong doer. Had I not been
\nable to defend myself, I am positive there would have been a
\ngreat chance I'd have been killed. At the police station there
\nwere many other foreigners with injuries and similar
\ncircumstances.<\/p>\n
When I phoned my family in Australia they were very
\ndistressed. Apparently Sydney newspapers have many reports of the
\nviolence against foreigners in Bali.<\/p>\n
Who will want to visit Bali in the future? Unsuspecting
\nvisitors will be shocked. The prostitutes, drug sellers,
\naggressive peddlers and beggars who line the streets are a shame.
\nI cannot understand the Balinese people allowing their way of
\nlife to receive this in order to make money. The foreign visitor
\ncomes to Bali to experience what is not in their own country, not
\nto see a copy of their bad elements. Why do we travel thousands
\nof kilometers and spend many tourist dollars? We may just as well
\nstay in our own country, or find other unspoiled places. The
\nuniqueness of Bali has gone.<\/p>\n
Name and address<\/p>\n
known to the editor<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/violence-in-bali-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }