A local media reports that Anak Agung Ngurah Manik Danendra, a member of the royal household at Puri Tegal Pemecutan in Denpasar, Bali, threatened to sue Bali Governor Wayan Koster if a law banning mountaineering on the island’s 22 mountains is enforced.
Based on Danendra’s statement on Monday, the 19th of June 2023, he will sue the Governor for IDR 22 trillion for enacting unlawful policies that do more harm than good for the locals in Bali and Bali tourism. Danendra clarified in a written statement that his intended legal action is permitted by law as a “class action” proceeding. He accused the Governor of being a government figure who refuses criticism and conducts unilateral actions as the Island’s Governor.
Danendra has vowed to pursue legal action in response to the Governor’s decree of banning mounteneering in Bali, which was issued on the 6th of June 2023, that prohibits climbing and trekking on 22 mountains in Bali. In the lawsuit, damages of IDR 1 trillion are demanded for each of the 22 mountains impacted by the Governor’s order.
Danendra portrays the Governor’s ban on mountaineering as oppressive and unlawful. “It is unnecessary to pass a Provincial legislation prohibiting mountain climbing.” Danendra continued, “It is sufficient to (merely) advise or encourage the general population not to climb mountains.”
Danendra also emphasised his worries about how Governor Koster’s proclamation of mountaineering ban will affect various economic sectors on the Island, including local villages, small and medium-sized businesses, vendors of camping gear, and mountain guides. He suggested other methods to preserve the sacredness of the Balinese mountains, including holding religious ceremonies and asking tourists to dress in traditional attire.
There has been a heated argument regarding this regulation since the Bali Governor made it public a few weeks ago. It is known that most volcanoes and mountains in Bali are sacred, but ever since, the COVID-restricted travel ban has been lifted. Bali is open to all travellers across the globe; there have been so many cases of unruly tourist behaviour at sacred places in Bali, including Mount Agung, considered one of the holiest places in Bali.
However, the Governor’s decision to ban mountaineering activities in Bali seemed inconsiderate and extreme, especially for the tourism sector in Bali. I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, the head of the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), believe that this regulation harms small to medium size businesses; Suryawijaya argues that the steps taken by Governor Koster were very extreme and unnecessary. Instead, Surwijaya believes that the government should focus on educating the tourist on Bali’s do’s and don’ts rather than taking extreme measures like this.
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