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The long history of government oppression does not bear this out. It actually shows the opposite will happen. They'll ignore it against their own people and s

The long history of government oppression does not bear this out. It actually shows the opposite will happen. They'll ignore it against their own people and specifically target foreigners because those enacting these kind of laws don't support different ideologies and view points. Considering one of Indonesia's fundamental goals when Indonesia was founded was to bond together hundreds of different cultures, ideologies and beliefs they're really focusing on one at this point. Those enacting and enforcing (because this was enforced in many places prior to the law) these things don't want differences in ideologies, they want one. Tourist aren't something they want giving ideas of freedom to their peoples.

ggm 4y ago
I certainly don't disagree the government of Indonesia has a long and bloody history of represssion, notably aided and abetted by Australia, the US and the UK during the anti communist backlash against Sukharno. More recently it's been pretty single minded about promoting its vision of an islamic community. My point is that Bali is majority Hindu (80% +) and substantially different to the wider Indonesian Archipelago, and I very much doubt the hoteliers of Bali are remotely interested in doing random UV light spot checks on the bedrooms. 80% of Bali's income is tourism. 25% of it comes from Australians. I might agree with you about the repressive nature of Indonesian government, but you seem to be ignoring the venality: Suharto and his family extracted 30 or more billions in rent from the people. They don't intend killing the goose that lays golden eggs. It's complaint based: the aggrieved partner or parent has to dob them in.
- elmerfud 4y ago
  My experience is that it's not the Balinese that come to tourist areas to find rich tourist to give them a better life. The girls that come are from Java to both escape their oppressive parents while earning money to send home. Those parents don't care about the tourists.

ggm 4y ago

I certainly don't disagree the government of Indonesia has a long and bloody history of represssion, notably aided and abetted by Australia, the US and the UK during the anti communist backlash against Sukharno. More recently it's been pretty single minded about promoting its vision of an islamic community. My point is that Bali is majority Hindu (80% +) and substantially different to the wider Indonesian Archipelago, and I very much doubt the hoteliers of Bali are remotely interested in doing random UV light spot checks on the bedrooms. 80% of Bali's income is tourism. 25% of it comes from Australians. I might agree with you about the repressive nature of Indonesian government, but you seem to be ignoring the venality: Suharto and his family extracted 30 or more billions in rent from the people. They don't intend killing the goose that lays golden eggs. It's complaint based: the aggrieved partner or parent has to dob them in.

elmerfud 4y ago
My experience is that it's not the Balinese that come to tourist areas to find rich tourist to give them a better life. The girls that come are from Java to both escape their oppressive parents while earning money to send home. Those parents don't care about the tourists.