Two Foreign Organisers of Bali's Entourage Run Leave Indonesia, Face Entry Ban

The Directorate General of Immigration has taken action against two foreign nationals suspected of organising the Entourage Run community event in Canggu, Bali, after the activity was alleged to be discriminatory against Indonesian citizens. Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko stated that his office has imposed an administrative immigration sanction in the form of a prevention order against the two foreigners, as they have already left Indonesia. ‘There must be no state within a state. That running event was a form of a state within a state,’ Hendarsam said. He explained that the two foreigners subject to the entry ban are currently outside Indonesian territory. ‘Currently, the foreigners in question are known to already be outside Indonesian territory, and Immigration has imposed a prevention order against them,’ he stated. In addition to imposing sanctions, Hendarsam has ordered the Bali Immigration office to investigate the event organiser and take action against any foreigners proven to have violated immigration regulations. ‘I have ordered the Bali Immigration office to examine the event organiser. If there are foreigners involved, take immediate action,’ he said. According to Hendarsam, the activity was organised by Entourage Bali, with two Dutch nationals identified as the organisers: JAS (35), a holder of a Limited Stay Permit Card (ITAS) for work, and HQV (37), a holder of an ITAS for investment. Both were known to have departed Indonesia on Wednesday evening, 23 July, via I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on a KLM flight to Singapore. ‘We have now placed both of them on the blacklist,’ Hendarsam said. He stressed that the action was taken because the activity was suspected of violating immigration regulations. Under applicable rules, foreign nationals are not permitted to organise events in Indonesia if it is not in accordance with their residence permits. The case came to light after a social media post circulated claiming that the Entourage Run community in Canggu allegedly restricted participation to foreigners only. The post recounted how a 23-year-old Indonesian woman was rejected by the registration system after filling in her citizenship status as Indonesian. The case also drew the attention of DPD RI member for the Bali electoral district, Ni Luh Putu Ary Pertami Djelantik, who reported it to the Bali Immigration Office, the Bali Regional Police, and the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office.