bali highlights - week 1 september 2016

Hundreds of protesters under ForBali (The People's Forum against Reclamation) intimidated the Regional House of Representative's Building as a continuation to their protest against the reclamation of Bali's Benoa Bay. ForBali is a group which is formed with a lot of diversity and people's power. It unites young people, politicians, rock stars, academic and religious institutions, environmentalists and 28 villages, including all 14 in the area earmarked for reclamation. The current protest is gaining popularity day by day against the resort development on Benoa Bay.

In the light of recent violations and crimes committed by tourists from various nationalities. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights is considering to review the President Regulation No. 21/2016 regarding visa free regulation that currently applies to 169 countries.

More than 450 suspects have been nabbed by Indonesian police with their suspected involvement in land and forest fires. This action has been taken as a wider initiative to get tougher control over farmers and companies that still insist on using the outlawed slash-and-burn land-clearing method. This decision was taken after the air pollution readings went from moderate to unhealthy in the recent months. This action has helped it brought down back to moderate.