Gang in Besakih

Gang in Besakih

I wish to relate a very disturbing experience I had when
visiting the Besakih temple complex in Bali on Sept. 10, 2000.

On reaching the entrance to the temple complex, the tour group
with which I was traveling was confronted by a group of young
men. They informed us that we could only enter the complex if
accompanied by one of them as a "guide", for which "service" we
would have to pay.

When we indicated that we had no intention of paying them and
tried to enter the complex, members of the tour group were
obstructed from entering, threatened and subjected to insults.
Having finally succeeded in entering, individual members of the
group followed and harassed to the point where we feared a
beating. Females were singled out for particular abuse.

All foreign tourists entering the site were subjected to the
same treatment -- most appeared to consider it safer to pay up.
On leaving the area, we complained to the site administrators,
who offered an embarrassed apology. However, a travel operator in
the area indicated that this behavior is well known to the
authorities, being the subject of constant complaints.

I conclude the following from my experience:
1. Access by non-Balinese to Bali's most important sacred place
is effectively in the hands of an unscrupulous gang, who openly
intimidate and threaten visitors.
2. The Balinese authorities, civil and religious, are well aware
of this but have taken no steps to expel the thugs.
3. If resolute steps are not taken against the gang, it is only a
matter of time before a visitor is seriously assaulted in
Besakih.

I call on the Balinese authorities to act without delay
against the perpetrators, whose presence desecrates the sanctity
of Besakih and the good name of Bali.

NOEL RUBOTHAM

Dublin, Ireland