«Every non-native species is stopped on the roads»
The Indonesian island of Bali, nicknamed «fabulous» in Runet, seems to be ceasing to be such. On the Day of Silence, which Indonesia celebrates on March 22, the authorities promised the Russians «new deportations and arrests.» What is happening in Bali, we learned from those who are now on the island.
— Day of Silence March 22 – an important stage in the celebration of the Hindu New Year, it is important to sum up the results on this day, — explains the Russian-speaking guide from Nusa Dua (a district of the island of Bali – author). – On this day, the immigration authorities promise to announce the results of a five-day special operation «to clean up illegal immigrants.»
Today, only from Bali, despite the fact that tourists are resting not only on this Indonesian island, 47 foreign guests have already been expelled, including 13 compatriots, and on Wednesday the immigration authorities promise a report on new «arrests and deportations».
There is also confirmation in the press: the Bali Ministry of Justice officially warned guests that from Friday, March 17 to Wednesday, March 22, «police raids to curb criminal activity, especially among tourists» will be held throughout the island.
— On the roads they stop everyone not of a local species, — says a relocant from Saratov. – A car or bike can now only be rented with a local driver. Well, or with local rights, which are impossible to obtain. That is, simply put, it is simply impossible. Previously, it was possible for the gendarme «on the paw» give, but within the raid — no. They now have the task of catching as many violators as possible for reporting.
— For the first violation – for example, for not wearing a helmet or illegally renting a vehicle – we will not deport immediately, – an official of the Bali immigration office consoles in an informal field. – We will fix the violation, and expel only repeat offenders.
— All 13 already expelled – malicious recidivists on the roads?
— No, three were engaged in prostitution, the rest – visa violations. They have not yet been deported for traffic violations, although there are most violators among your citizens.
Last week, after the expulsion from Indonesia of three Russian women accused of prostitution in Bali, the immigration authorities admitted for the first time that the Timpora group, specially created to supervise foreigners, works «with the help of a caring public», or, more simply, on the basis of denunciations from private individuals. It was through their efforts that five Russians were expelled from Bali on March 10.
— "Timpora" — a monitoring group, therefore it does not go on raids, but collects information by all possible means, – not unlocked by a Balinese immigration officer. – But all received signals are carefully checked.
— If someone gave you such a «signal», then everything has already come into the field of view of «Timpora», – Russian relocators are sure. – And that’s it, don’t turn away, they will find something. They are required to work out.
— And who cares to knock on you? You, on the contrary, rent housing from locals, rent transport, spend money!
— They are very active. And not for those Russians who relax in rich villas, but for those who earn extra money. And this is a certain circle of those who are here not on paid leave, but out of need. And everyone knows each other.
This is the main pain of the Bali authorities, although they voice it along with others – violations of the visa regime and on the roads: «come in large numbers» from the Russian Federation and Ukraine are quite actively and effectively taken away from under the noses of local entrepreneurs by their traditional service sectors – excursions, transportation, and even the beauty industry and catering. But compatriots are convinced that not only local competitors inform on them, but also their own.
— Those who have managed to open a cafe or a beauty salon here have settled down very well, — says a relocant from Siberia. – And whoever did not have time is envious and wants to clear a place for himself. But they don’t look ahead and don’t understand that later someone will write to them in the “immigration card” too. And in the end, everyone will just be etched, and that's it. Some people buy local «ksiva» for themselves, not realizing that this is a forgery of documents, for which the local prison shines.
— As part of the operation, which started on March 17, everyone who violated the ban on work in Indonesia for persons arriving on a tourist visa will be detained and subsequently deported, – promises the Bali immigration office. – If a fake Indonesian ID (ID – identity card – author) is found during the check, then this is a criminal case. We have already initiated one.
Meanwhile, the governor of Bali, who last week approached the Indonesian authorities with a proposal to “tighten the rules for issuing visas for citizens of Russia and Ukraine due to a series of serious violations of the law committed by visitors from these countries,” received a response from both his Ministry of Justice and the Russian Ambassador.
The Indonesian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights responded that it considered such a move «premature». But if «the number of Russians and Ukrainians causing concern to the island» continues to grow, then the governor's proposal will be considered.
To which the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Lyudmila Vorobyova, noted that in this case, the miracle island should wait » ;changes in the tourist flow». Here, apparently, the Balinese «immigrant» I looked into my own statistics, which says that in 2022, 58 thousand citizens of the Russian Federation visited Bali, and only in January 2023, 22.5 thousand guests from Russia arrived on the island, and decided to postpone the visa tightening for us. And the wish of the authorities, «so that the number of disturbers does not grow», is being solved by deportation, since there are many reasons for it.