Bali facing challenge to keep its harmonious race relations

By Putu Wirata

JAKARTA (JP): After the May riots in Jakarta and Surakarta (Solo), many Indonesians, mainly those of Chinese descent, looked to Bali as a safe place to live.

They went in great numbers to the island to buy houses, to look for business opportunities, and at the same to seek protection for themselves and their families. It has provided real estate developers who were on the brink of bankruptcy with a sudden boom and blown away the economic crisis blues, for the time being at least. House have been sold for prices of up to Rp 800 million in recent weeks.

Candra Wijaya from PT Suryamitra Cemerlang was astonished by the sharp increase in demand for houses ready for immediate occupation. The company, which is building the Puri Gading housing complex at Jimbaran on Nusa Dua, admitted to being overwhelmed by the demand. An employee said last month that the company was selling an average of three houses a day. "Clients are paying in cash, not in installments," he said. A house formerly priced at Rp 135 million can now sell for approximately Rp 210 million.

According to the employee, who asked to remain anonymous, 50 percent of the companies clients who have bought houses since the middle of May are of Chinese descent, at least if their names are anything to go by.

I Made Darma from PT Bali Areagraha Development and I Gede Budiamika, director of PT Cipta Kosala Dewata, said that Chinese- Indonesians from Jakarta, Medan, Solo, Ujungpandang and Surabaya have placed orders for small houses of between 45 square meters and 54 square meters, priced at Rp 50 million upwards.

"They all ask for houses ready for immediate occupation," Darma said.

The exodus has given cause for concern about the development of undesirable situations, as revealed in last week's discussion entitled How to Anticipate Dangerous Situations in the Aftermath of the May 1998 Riots.

"As an Indonesian citizen born in Bali I have never noticed racial resentment in the Balinese community," said Joger, a speaker at the seminar.

Joger, who makes tourist souvenirs, admits the potential for trouble is there. "But I am convinced that if we are well- intentioned and able to socialize with people, nothing will happen," he said, reminding the audience that less commendable behavior could also be found among the so-called indigenous people.

The second speaker, Dewa Gede Palguna, was of the opinion that "the Balinese community does not know racial hatred." He underlined the fact that they live in harmony with people of other ethnic backgrounds, including the Chinese.

However, there is also fear that the influx of Chinese- Indonesians could give rise to problems.

"If they come in large numbers and live exclusively in Bali, it will be a problem," said Putu Suasta, another speaker at the seminar. He quoted some recent demographic data which shows that population density in Bali has reached 733 people per square kilometer, way above the ideal number of 250 people per square kilometer.

"A high population density will reduce the space to maintain and develop Balinese culture that is based on the traditional village. The role of the traditional village which has been marginalized for a long time, must be restored immediately," he said. He also appealed to the government to consider regional regulations on population.

Senior lawyer, activist and Hindu intellectual Wayan Sudirta, the moderator of the discussion, said in his introduction: "We cannot possibly close Bali to newcomers. What we can do is to include all components in our society, both original inhabitants and newcomers, to preserve our culture."

Although he believed that Balinese society has the patience and tolerance to adapt to cultural change, he said excessive exploitation would cause an explosion of anger that would be difficult to reign in.

"If tourist operators continue to exploit the island and have only a marginal impact on the island's prosperity, some day the people will reject tourism. If they see some ethnic Chinese living in exclusive surroundings and see that the condition is being maintained by the government, then society may explode," he said. So, in order to prevent an explosion, all elements of Balinese society must anticipate such a possibility.

On a previous occasion Wayan Sudirta said that Chinese- Indonesians and other ethnic groups in Bali did not need to fear rioting provided they did not hurt the feelings of the Balinese.

Unfortunately during Soeharto's reign and while Prof. Ida Bagus Oka was Bali governor, there were a number of Chinese- Indonesians who colluded with government officials and that hurt the feelings of the people.

"So far the Balinese see the phenomenon as the actions of a number of individuals. They have not made generalizations," Sudirta added. "I received information that these individuals acquired land close to sacred Hindu sites. They were acting in the capacity of mediators and cashiers in cooperation with government officials," Sudirta said.

He added that Chinese-Indonesians who were looking for a safe haven in Bali should not suffer on account of the actions of others. "We need a dialog to create a Bali that is safe and agreeable to both the Balinese and people from outside who reside here," he concluded.