Reality and Fantasy about Bali

[Bert Vierstra]

Ok, in another threat we are getting annoyed about Roy's "Hee I am here, I know, and you don't", and ofcourse this (his) attitude can put you off.

But, often, also on this forum, you hear a lot of suggestion of corruption in conversations amongst foreigners. And I am not talking traffic cop kinda stuff or small time grease money. Even people on this forum ask for ways to bypass laws, or suggesting they know howto.

Actually, I don't know any corruption cases, or cases where visa or something like that were bought.

Oh yes, there is a lot of hearsay and gossip, and on the internets you can find some stories. But until now, I never really got to know a case wich was clearly a corruption case in Bali.

Now, am I naive to think that foreigners create a too negative image of Bali amongst themselves, and "the world"? Is my feeling that foreigners often misuse "corruption" to explain things they don't understand, wrong?

Is there corruption? Sure. Everywhere is corruption, but on levels I'll never get close too. Even in the Netherlands. Is it worse in Indonesia? Sure.

But the picture of Bali painted as a pool of corruption and injustice I don't see.

In your life, how much real (no gossip) corruption do you encounter? (besides traffic cop stuff?)

(I'll understand you wouldn't post information like this on a public forum, but maybe you know a way around telling the whole truth)

[mimpimanis]

A few examples.

I have personally paid a bribe when shipping my personal items from UK to customs to not have my CD collection taken away for censoring.

I was entering Bali with my best freind from UK who arrived on an Irish passport before the irish were granted VOA (I was not aware she was travelling on an Irish passport) She had to pay in the region of 5 million to be issued an "emergency visa" rather than be sent back to KL, our last transit point.

I have two other examples of Balinese people I know paying large bribes. However at risk of any come back on them or me I am not going to post the details here.

[Roy]

What is going on Bert is this ridiculous discussion about non paid, no profit charity work here in Bali. Some posters, who aside from the fact that they don’t live in Bali, also have never been involved with charity work, yet they don’t mind stating fiction as if it is fact.

I apologize that this has pissed me off to no end, but it is clear that this guy Sid, from Japan, is serious about getting personally involved with charity work here in Bali while on a sosbud visa. The fact that disinformation, or outright BS could dissuade him from the active charity endeavors he has mentioned, causes my blood to boil!

If in the pursuit of the truth during that discussion I rubbed some people the wrong way, in short, I could care less. The idea of Syd showing up in Bali, and perhaps changing a life, two, or more for the better far outweighs in my mind any egos I trampled on.

And, to answer your question...not at all for me. But then again, as some fools will tell you, I wear rose tinted glasses! :P :P :P

[Bert Vierstra]

Oh yes, I heard about the shipping "bribes", up to 25 million I believe, and the "emergency visa", ah well...

I also once paid about 6 million to get my father in law out of prison, but I still don't if this was a legit fine or something else or a combination of both. Probably the last.

Your friends, was it something big, like land deals, paying off penalties for big crimes?

[mimpimanis]

No, no crimes. Paying to get into a job. But significant amounts.

[Bert Vierstra]

No, no crimes. Paying to get into a job. But significant amounts.

Oh yes, to become a police officer, or get a job on a cruise ship or something locals have to pay a lot.

Even for jobs like in a hotel, or Spa people have to pay...

[Roy]

Bert, you’ll likely recall some years ago when Eri and I hosted photographer Petter Hegre and his equally famous Russian model wife, Luba? On the scheduled night of their arrival we got an urgent call from Singapore that there was a problem. Luba was being denied access to the Bali flight because she was traveling on a Ukrainian passport...no VOA.

It took us an hour or so of phone calls, a couple of FAXes, but no payments, and all was resolved.

In my ten years of experience here in Bali, I have always found government employees by and large to be cooperative, willing to help, patient and effective. I won’t say perfect, but I’d rather deal with an Indonesian government official any day over his or her American counterpart.

[Bert Vierstra]

I have always found government employees by and large to be cooperative, willing to help, patient and effective.

I think so too.

[Roy]

OK, so where do all these urban legends come from? Aside from mad hatters, (you know who I mean), when have you ever heard a viable and believable story involving Indonesian corruption, extortion, illegal imprisonment, deportation, death, etc?

For the two or so times a month I may sit at Nuri’s with my cronies, I never hear of any of this either.

So, I ask again...where do these stories come from and why do they persist?

[mimpimanis]

when have you ever heard a viable and believable story involving Indonesian corruption,

Are my examples neither believable nor viable?

Dont get me wrong I am not complaining about corruption just saying it does exist here.

The people who paid 40/50 million for a job are happy with their jobs.

I was happy my friend got her "emergency visa" or else I too would have felt the need to join her when she was sent back to KL.