House of Representatives Urges Immigration to Audit Foreign Running Community That Barred Indonesians in Bali
Jakarta, VIVA – Rieke Diah Pitaloka, a member of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), has asked the Directorate General of Immigration and the Bali Provincial Government to audit the residence permit status of foreign nationals who are part of the Entourage Run community.
This stringent oversight is a response to, and a recommendation to prevent a recurrence of, the incident involving a foreign-national-based running community in Canggu, Bali, which is suspected of discriminating against Indonesian citizens by rejecting them from joining its events.
“Carry out firm guidance and supervision. Summon the community’s organisers, audit the residence permit status of all members, and take strict action in accordance with the Immigration Law if violations are found,” said Rieke when contacted in Jakarta on Friday.
Rieke condemned the exclusivity practised by the community in public spaces.
She stressed that the roads, beaches and public facilities in Canggu belong to all Indonesian people. There must be no citizenship barrier preventing Indonesians from accessing public spaces in their own homeland.
Rieke also asked the Immigration authorities and the Bali Provincial Government to build an inclusive community model by facilitating sports tourism that brings Indonesians and foreigners together, such as Run On Bali and the Bali Tourism Run, so as to deliver direct economic benefits to local small and medium enterprises (UMKM).
She further called for strengthened legal and cultural education through massive outreach to foreign communities in Bali, with the message that being a guest means respecting the host, local customs and the laws in force in Indonesia.
Rieke assessed that what the foreign running community had done, besides violating the Immigration Law, also breached human rights and public order.
She explained that Law Number 6 of 2011 as amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 stipulates that foreign nationals holding visit visas may only engage in tourism activities.
Organising a regular community can be categorised as an activity inconsistent with one’s residence permit.
From a human rights perspective, she said, the principle of equality before the law and the prohibition of discrimination are constitutional rights. Public spaces must not be monopolised by any particular group.
“The state is obliged to guarantee a sense of security and equal rights for Indonesian citizens,” said Rieke.
She also emphasised that the Bali Provincial Government, through regional regulations (perda) and sustainable tourism policies, has the authority to regulate mass activities so that they align with the local wisdom of Tri Hita Karana and do not create social conflict.