Violence in Bali

Violence in Bali

I write this letter as one who has had the privilege to know
Bali in a different light. As a very young boy, my parents
brought me to see and know the wonders of a different culture.

I do not smoke or drink and prefer the beauty of scenery to
the other offerings of such places as Kuta, Bali. However, on
Aug. 29, 1998, a Saturday afternoon, I was giving a ride by
motorbike to help another person collect some belongings from
where they stay in Kuta. Here is my experience.

As I was entering a small lane, there were many dogs blocking
my path. I slowed down and negotiated the hazard as best I could.
A mishap occurred when one of the dogs collided with my motor
bike. I stopped. The dog appeared to be OK, so I was about to
proceed. Suddenly a man came at me with very abusive language
(using English), then punched me. I was very shocked, and asked
why he was behaving like this.

It appeared he was the owner of the dog. He became even more
abusive and aggressive and hit me a second time. I got off the
motorbike, he approached me to hit me again, so I defended
myself. Then I was attacked from behind. I turned and was
confronted by two more assailants, being friends of the first
person. One of them was armed with a bottle. All three attacked
me, again I defended myself as best I could. In the process, I
was punched and kicked repeatedly, and hit by the bottle and a
motorbike helmet. Later in the evening, I was treated at Denpasar
hospital for concussion.

Luckily, however, I was able to escape from this incident. I
made a report at the Kuta police station, where I was asked for
money and kept for seven hours with the feeling that I was not to
be released at all that night. My passenger, being a witness was
also asked for money. The witness is staying in the same complex
as the three suspects and duly was very worried about returning
there. We telephoned the police and were assured the three
assailants were still in custody.

On our arrival, two of the three men were sitting outside
their room. Only by the help of an Indonesian friend was I able
to leave the police station. The next day I was too ill to return
to Kuta, and when the police were phoned to ask about my needing
to return, they stated "make sure you bring money with you".

I have since retained legal representation. The police are now
saying it is the word of three (one of whom is known to police as
a troublemaker) against two. The police are indicating they
believe these three men over myself and the witness and I may be
the one who faces charges. This, in my belief, is because I gave
no money. Sadly, I found out two of the three men are of Chinese
ancestry.

I was a victim but treated as a wrong doer. Had I not been
able to defend myself, I am positive there would have been a
great chance I'd have been killed. At the police station there
were many other foreigners with injuries and similar
circumstances.

When I phoned my family in Australia they were very
distressed. Apparently Sydney newspapers have many reports of the
violence against foreigners in Bali.

Who will want to visit Bali in the future? Unsuspecting
visitors will be shocked. The prostitutes, drug sellers,
aggressive peddlers and beggars who line the streets are a shame.
I cannot understand the Balinese people allowing their way of
life to receive this in order to make money. The foreign visitor
comes to Bali to experience what is not in their own country, not
to see a copy of their bad elements. Why do we travel thousands
of kilometers and spend many tourist dollars? We may just as well
stay in our own country, or find other unspoiled places. The
uniqueness of Bali has gone.

Name and address

known to the editor