GIANYAR ~
Six members of the expatriate community of Ubud Watch held a meeting with Gianyar Regent, Anak Agung Gde Agung Bharata discussed security and the environment in Ubud, on Thursday.
The meeting involved members of Ubud Watch Community, Bali Spirit Festival founder Kadek Gunatha and Head of Tourism Division Gianyar Regency Anak Agung Ari Brahmanta.
One member of Ubud Watch Jackie Pameroy from the United States explained that his arrival to meet Gianyar Regent related to issues that occur in Ubud, especially in terms of safety and environmental impact on the development of tourism.
He was concerned with rising crime report that happens to tourists or residents of Ubud that happened lately.
Based on that reason, Ubud Watch made a website as a forum for newcomers and tourists and the general public to share information in an effort to increase security in Ubud.
From the information received on the website, noted 91 cases of complaints of crime that occurred in Ubud, with 54 cases of complaints occurred in 2014, including 13 cases of complaints of harassment and sexual assault, 19 cases of mugging complaints, 16 cases of complaints of theft and home burglary.
For complaints of burglary and theft are all happening at villas. 76 percent of victims are women, 83 percent of victims were western and 60 percent of it occurred at night.
Locations that should be of concern is the area of Penestanan-Campuhan and Monkey Forest area. According to Jackie, the victims do not report to the police for various reasons, such as the victims do not speak Bahasa or the victim is in Ubud only for short time.
Meanwhile, Rio Helmy conveyed, critical attention which is necessary besides security issues is a waste management in Ubud.
Waste management is still considered bad, a step that needs to be done is to persuade hotels and restaurants to not only keep their area, but also the surrounding environment.
Rio Helmy emphasized about the necessary of understanding to be given to the younger generation of Ubud, about the dangers of alcohol.
Meanwhile Regent Agung Bharata appreciated for the concern and input from Ubud Watch towards safety and environment in Ubud Gianyar especially as a tourist destination.
There will be coordination within the police and the citizens. In addition, the Regent will make arrangements for security officer of villas, create a public zone alert by coordinate with all parties including expatriates.
He expected that the younger generation to be participated in this campaign activities as a means of expression while keeping secure environment.
2 Comments
Yes,security is a concern.
My biggest concern though is that my neighbours in Sayan burn garbage every night with bursts of plastic burning during the day.
They do this so that I will pay them to stop.This they told me to my face.
This nightmare has been going on for years. I ended up paying the 3 families a total of $120 per month for 6 months.During that time very little burning at nights only to be replaced by a smell that was unbearable.I made visits to them all very nice and made many complaints about the vile smell, but to no avail.
So I stopped paying a month ago. Now we are back to garbage burning the whole night.
Over the last two years I have had the Kilian dinas go to see them four times, the police there three times plus I went to the environmental agency known as BLH which also included a letter to the Bupati.
Well lots and lots of talking was done but my nightmare continues. The Balinese attitude is, that its their land and they can do whatever they want to do on it and bule cannot stop it.As told to me by the offenders.
There are laws against this practice made in Jakarta but anyone who has lived here for anytime knows that no Balinese is going to enforce them.
So forming this group is a very good idea but trying to get any change re the security of bules and the old old habit of burning garbage is going to be a long road. But as Lao Tzuv said A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.
Some Americans still think that they should expect the ‘paradise’ as seen by Margaret Mead. It’s known that US expats more than other nationalities are responsible for the atmosphere of segregation in communities with a large number of expats on the island of Gods.
They should know where segregation leads to and it it’s too bad for them that, like ‘back home’, they can’t lock ‘the others’ up or shoot them on their property.