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RE: Truth, Justice and Harmony
I believe the problem goes beyond the adat! :cry:
From Bali Update,
The Growing Problem of Pedophilia in Bali
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UNICEF Sponsored Workshop in Nusa Dua Highlight Growing Problem of Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children in Bali.
Experts speaking at a UNICEF-sponsored seminar held in Nusa Dua on December 4, 2006, warned that the incidence of sexual exploitation of children is expanding at an alarming rate in Bali.
Speaking at a Workshop of the Sexual Exploitation and Commercialization of Children, Anna-Karin Jatfor, an expert staff of UNICEF, admitted that monitoring such activity is problematic, although the government has sufficient information to attack the root causes of the problem.
The workshop reported that many under-aged sex workers are in evidence on Bali streets, night clubs, entertainment centers and hotels. According to Jatfors, young people who drop out from school are mong those most susceptible to commercialization and sexual exploitation.
She went on to warn that the intensification of pedophilic activities in the tourism sector is obvious, with sophisticated crime syndicates now involved in the illicit trade of children. The UN expert also warned that what can be seen of the trade in children only touches the tip of a much larger, less visible iceberg.
While there have recently been a number of high-profile prosecutions of pedophiles in Indonesia, Jatfors said a much more intense effort is needed to wipe out this practice in Lombok and Bali which has become a target for Australian pedophiles. She estimated some 10,000 children in Indonesia have already fallen prey to sexual exploitation or sexual violence over the past few years, with most cases still going unreported.
Both a Local and Foreign Element to the Problem
According to Bali police official speaking at the meeting, 27 cases of pedophilia had been handled in Bali since 2005. While all cases initially involved only foreigners, recent cases have also established similar crimes committed against children by Bali's endemic population.
The Police Official, Sang Ayu Putu Alit, told the meeting: "I must underline that the perpetrators of pedophilia are no longer limited to foreigners, but now also includes our own people. This condition must receive our serious attention."
Keep on smiling.
Daniel
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"War is terrorism on a bigger budget."
RE: Truth, Justice and Harmony
That’s a rather absurd comment, don’t you think? It strongly implies that only recently has pedophilia within indigenous Balinese become an issue, viz, “but now also includes our own people.” That is simply not true. What is true is that only until recently have the police been made more aware of pedophilia within the Balinese population due to the increase of cases reported to them by the Balinese.The Police Official, Sang Ayu Putu Alit, told the meeting: "I must underline that the perpetrators of pedophilia are no longer limited to foreigners, but now also includes our own people. This condition must receive our serious attention."
Without sound and accurate statistics, this can only be dealt with as heresy, conjecture and opinion. I highly doubt that pedophilia is on the rise amongst the Balinese. What is on the rise is the number of cases that get reported to the police. Only then do those reported cases become public record.
What is potentially disturbing with this trend is that which is inferred, that being that the effectiveness of adat in some areas of Balinese is waning. However, it could also infer that within some banjars of Bali, village adat is evolving in that more reliance on the police is utilized to settle matters which are now deemed as criminal activity.
Another aspect of this whole discussion which has not yet been addressed is, what constitutes pedophilia among the Balinese, and how do they define their sexuality? It was not that long ago in Balinese society that a girl, who once having had her first period was considered old enough to marry. Incidentally, this was also the case at one time or another in virtually all current “civilized” western society.
There are a great many complex issues and influences that are involved here but I have no doubt that the role of adat within the Balinese banjar system constitutes the greatest deterrent to any form of criminal behavior among the Balinese.
Are there any Balinese out there who would disagree with me?
RE: Truth, Justice and Harmony
Roy,
I am not Balinese so I wont disagree with you. Actually, your above comments are all well taken, so even if I were Balinese I would have to agree with your points.
Keep on smiling.
Daniel
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"War is terrorism on a bigger budget."
RE: Truth, Justice and Harmony
The last thing you do in Bali is go to the ......, that’s if you want justice. I'm all for Adat as that is so less corrupted and in fact in most cases not corrupted. Western people find this difficult as it is so foreign to them. Roy shows how much he adapted to life here and excepts this way and I couldn’t agree more with him.
RE: Truth, Justice and Harmony
Richard, many thanks for your “vote of confidence” and your kind words. Truth be told though, I should carry your bags. After all, you are among only a select few “used to be” expats that have made the ultimate move to Bali...that being full Indonesian citizenship.
When it comes to adapting to Balinese culture, or adopting Bali as home, what greater indication of resolve can be found beyond that?
If I were a betting man, I’d likely bet this string is just about over and done with. Hopefully, with all the insight shared here, most readers have gained something.
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