Joint Statement of Forum Warga Setara (ForWaras): Condemning Public Officials’ Statements on Demonstrations in Bali that Divide Solidarity Among Citizens – Civil Society Has the Right to Criticise State

The series of demonstrations that have taken place across various regions reflect the deep disappointment of the Indonesian people towards recurring acts of state violence. These range from policies on salaries and allowances that disproportionately benefit parliament members and the arrogance of legislators; budget efficiency measures and the burden of tax hikes placed on citizens to finance the government’s ambitious projects; reckless law-making that strips people of their rights; to the government’s anti-criticism stance and police brutality that has claimed victims.

In Bali, this disappointment was expressed through a demonstration on 30 August 2025. During the protest, Balinese citizens voiced concerns over issues such as the drastic rise in tax rates of up to 3,569% in Badung under Regional Regulation No. 11 of 2025, poor waste management systems, worsening traffic congestion, massive conversion of agricultural land for tourism projects that damage the environment and social fabric, low wages amid soaring living costs in Bali, and the weak response of local government in addressing these pressing problems.

However, instead of addressing these grievances, several public officials labelled the participation of citizens showing solidarity and critical attitudes towards injustice during the protest with racial sentiments. Among them was the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, who stated “I received information that of the 25 people detained, only three had Bali identity cards, the others did not. This means it was already infiltrated, and if infiltrated it will spread, the escalation will widen, and in the end, we all lose,” (Sunday, 31 August 2025).

Similarly, the Head of Operations of Bali Regional Police (Karo Ops Polda Bali), Police Commissioner Soelistijono, stated on the same day: “…130 people were detained from yesterday until early this morning. Looking at the data, most ID cards were indeed from Bali, but many were not Balinese people. Because we all believe that true Balinese would not want to create chaos or disturbances in Bali Province. This is a fact based on the data reviewed by our unit, beyond those handled by BRIMOB, and now under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Unit, their ID cards may say Bali, but their names show they are not Balinese.”

Several racist remarks and actions by Bali police personnel were also documented by the legal team providing assistance to protest participants. This indicates an effort by the police to delegitimise the demonstrations by invoking racial sentiments.

Such racist statements by public officials are dangerous because they divide communities along identity lines, obscure the substance of democratic demands, and legitimize state repression. These statements are problematic in several respects:

1. They contradict the values of Pancasila and undermine pluralism, risk fuelling horizontal conflict, and divert attention from the real demands.
2. Based on principles of Human Rights and democracy, they violate the principle of equality among citizens and the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression regardless of demonstrators’ origins.
3. Under several statutory provisions, the principle of non-discrimination is binding upon the conduct and behaviour of public officials.
4. The racist remarks of these public officials constitute discrimination prohibited under Law No. 40 of 2008, namely any act of distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race and ethnicity that results in the revocation or reduction of recognition, acquisition, or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal footing in civil, political, economic, social, and cultural spheres.
5. In demonstrations both in Bali and elsewhere, solidarity among citizens has been the foundation of collective action, unbound by identity barriers. At the 30 August 2025 protest in Bali, this solidarity was reflected in the provision of manpower, logistics, medical support, and public donations. Even pecalang (traditional Balinese community guards) expressed solidarity by maintaining order and contributing boxes of bottled water for protesters. Law No. 25 of 2009 on Public Services

Narratives seeking to separate Balinese people from politics and civil freedom of expression are ahistorical. Resistance against injustice has long shaped Balinese history. During the colonial period, Balinese communities waged political struggles against colonialism with puputan (fighting to the death rather than surrender), such as in the Puputan Badung (1906), Puputan Klungkung (1908), and Puputan Margarana (1946). Such statements by public officials are therefore not only ahistorical but also an insult to the intelligence and critical thinking of the Balinese people.

Accordingly, based on the above, the Forum Warga Setara (ForWaras) declares the following stance:

1. Strongly condemns the racist statements of public officials in Bali that divide society, and urges officials and public figures to end discriminatory practices and stigmatisation of demonstrators;
2. Urges the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) and the Police’s Professional and Security Division (Propam POLRI) to investigate the conduct of the Head of Operations of Bali Regional Police and other police personnel involved in handling the demonstrations, and to impose/recommend sanctions for discriminatory actions, including the dismissal of the Head of Operations over his remarks;
3. Calls on the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia and its regional office to conduct a maladministration review of the Governor of Bali and the Head of Operations of Bali Regional Police over their statements;
4. Demands that the Government and Parliament take responsibility for the current situation by listening to the people’s demands, guaranteeing every citizen’s right to freedom of expression, and ending all forms of anti-criticism and policies that bring suffering to the people;
5. Calls on the people of Bali and across Indonesia to strengthen solidarity against racism and all forms of divide-and-rule politics.
   

We firmly believe that the struggle of the people transcends identity and regional boundaries. The voice of the people is the voice of justice. To fight racism is to fight oppression in all its forms.

Denpasar, 2 September 2025

Signatories (as Individual and on behalf organization):

1. I Ngurah Suryawan
2. YLBHI-LBH Bali
3. Agung Alit
4. Komunitas Taman 65
5. Keyza Widiatmika
6. Cokorda G.B. Suryanata
7. Koalisi Berhak Bergerak
8. Ni Putu Candra Dewi
9. Bumi Setara
10. NAMU Law Firm and Public Interest Office  
11. Made Mawut
12. Wayan Willyana
13. Ngurah Karyadi, JIKA
14. Adi Apriyanta
15. I Made Halmadiningrat
16. Lingkar Studi Konstitusi
17. Danan Paramartha
18. Rechtforma
19. Bukan Main Games
20. Kaukus Indonesia untuk Kebebasan Akademik (KIKA) Bali
21. I Dewa Gede Palguna
22. FDTBali (Forum Diskusi Transportasi Bali)
23. Made Saraswati
24. Satya Ranasika
25. Suriadi Darmoko 
26. BEM FH Universitas Udayana
27. Dis-Print Kultur
28. Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta
29. Roberto Hutabarat, ForBALI PRO-DEMOKRASI
30. I Wayan Mahesa
31. Manushya Foundation 
32. Equitypals 
33. Ni Luh Yunaelis, Yunaelish & Associates Law Firm
34. I Gusti Ayu Nyoman Widyanti Arista Paramastri
35. KOMPAKS (Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil Anti Kekerasan Seksual)
36. Kusuma Widiari
37. Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) Indonesia 
38. Women’s March Jakarta (WMJ) 25
39. Bali Kembali Berdaya
40. Ade Andreawan
41. QAMERAD
42. HopeHelps Universitas Udayana
43. LBH Bali WCC
44. C. I G. A. Raniti 
45. Lembaga Advokasi dan Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (LABHI)- Bali  
46. GSHR Udayana
47. Marxist Forum – Manila