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