Updated ,first published
Singapore: Indonesia is made by offensive foreigners in Bali. It so happened that immigration officials didn’t waste a day in arresting a pair of Dutch digital nomads accused of running a racist entertainment club that allegedly favors Westerners.
The drama has gone viral on social media, where locals and visitors to Bali are queuing up to comment on how good it is to “finally see Asians fighting! Yeah”, or how true “I’ve been told to go home just because my two dogs were sniffing their feet, and they beat them for it”.
Indonesians in Bali are becoming increasingly sensitive to slights or perceived slights against their home and culture. This one has extra sizzle because of the nationality of the accused men: Indonesia was a Dutch colony for centuries until its much-celebrated independence after World War II.
“Colonial ancestors,” wrote one commenter.
The story began when an Indonesian woman Annisa Rahmadani applied via WhatsApp to join Entourage Bali, a club “created as a community of digital nomads in Bali” by two Dutchmen, known as Joost Storms and Hidde van Vliet.
After entering his details, he received a message saying, “Our team will review your application and get back to you shortly”.
This would not have been a problem if her Western husband had not applied and been accepted immediately.
‘Foreign nationals cannot create their own laws or exceptions within Indonesian jurisdiction.’
Hendarsam Marantoko, director general of Bali immigration
“Dear Entourage Bali! You delayed my application because I have () an Indonesian name and number, but you immediately accepted my husband’s application because he has a western name and number! Shame on you!” Rahmadani posted on social media on Thursday, identifying Bali with the national immigration authority.
The next day, Bali’s Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, was outside telling reporters “this flight incident was a form of creating a situation within the state” and that the Dutch were not allowed to return.
“Foreign citizens cannot create their own laws or be excluded within the jurisdiction of Indonesia,” the Jakarta Globe reported Hendarsam as saying.
The two – identified in Indonesia only as JAS, 35, and HQV, 37, apparently had already left Indonesia for Singapore the day before Rahmadi’s viral post, which, as of Monday morning, had nearly 5000 likes and nearly 800 comments, not to mention comments on Indonesian media sites.
When the story started, Entourage Bali responded on his Instagram account to apologize and explain.
“Being a digital nomad is not defined by nationality,” they wrote. “Our community includes members from many countries, including Indonesia.
“Some of our events have been open and free for everyone to attend, while others have had a participant requirement depending on the purpose of the event. For example, some events were created specifically for digital nomads, while others, such as women’s walks and workshops, were intended for female participants only.”
The organizers even created a pie chart showing that Indonesians (22) make up the largest group of attendees at the July 22 “Silent Disco Run”, followed by Russians (14) and then “Anglos” (12) from Australia, America and the UK.
Indonesian media reports that immigration officials are questioning the men’s sponsor, a supplier of construction materials, about their activities in Indonesia and whether they had the right visas.
The event has sparked a kind of Balinese nationalism on social media against the ubiquitous foreigners who call themselves digital nomads, influencers, and life coaches. This includes constant frustration over the many cases of foreigners disrespecting locals by fighting, drunkenness, indecency, working illegally and even nude photos on sacred sites.
It also shut down Entourage Bali, at least for now.
European-based Indonesian influencer and web developer Sasha Astiadi (Sasha Tigresa) posted a video message directed at long-term visitors to Bali.
“If you live in Bali, please ask yourself: do you have the right permit, do you have the right visa to live in Bali?” he said, before explaining his responsibilities in Germany: show enough money to support himself, pay taxes, buy insurance and learn the language.
“In Indonesia, the only thing we ask you is to have the right work permit and the right visa. We don’t ask you to learn Indonesian. We don’t even ask you to pay taxes in Indonesia if you say you are a digital nomad. So, respect the culture and get the right permit to do that.”
It is not clear what investigation the immigration authorities did before issuing the ban. But the speed shows that they are serious.
The club apologized on its social media channels, which shared videos of large groups of tourists and migrants fleeing temples and houses in Bali.
“Msafara was created as a digital nomad community in Bali to help people who are new to the island connect with others and do fun activities together during their stay,” the statement read.
Bali police told this columnist that “there was no ban on Indonesian citizens participating in the Silent Disco Run event; however, said events were indeed dominated by foreign nationals”.
For the besieged Dutch pair, it seems the Bali lifestyle is over regardless.
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Zach’s hopes is a Southeast Asian writer. He is a former journalist at the Brisbane Times.Connect through email address.
Karuni Skirts is the Indonesia contributor to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect through X.
