Denpasar – The head of the Balinese Justice and Human Rights Ministry, Jamaruli Manihuruk, has stated that they will deport foreign nationals involved in protest actions against the Russian-Ukraine war.
"[We] will take firm action in the form of sanctions in accordance with Law Number 6/2011 on Immigration", said Manihuruk in a written release on March 1, 2022.
Based on the ministry's data, there are 464 Ukrainian and 2,542 Russian nationals in Bali. "That's the number of Ukrainian and Russian nationals that are in Bali as of February 25, 2022", he said.
Manihuruk said that most of them are using permanent stay (Itap) and limited stay (Itas) visas. In the case of Ukrainian citizens, 453 have Itas visas and 11 have Itap visas. Meanwhile in the case of Russian citizens, 2,495 have Itas visas and 47 have Itap visas.
So far, said Manihuruk, there have been no Ukrainian or Russian nationals who have returned to their countries of origin.
Earlier on the afternoon of Tuesday March 1, a peaceful action opposing the war in Ukraine was held by a number of foreign nationals in front of the Bajra Sandhi monument in Renon, Denpasar city. The protesters brought Ukrainian flags and protested against the war.
The action was disbanded by police because they did not have a permit. The demonstrators then continued the rally at the Ukrainian Consulate on Jalan Gurita Pegok in the Sesetan area of South Denpasar.
"We are also concerned about their country. But, their method, there are procedures based on regulations. I've disbanded them, it's finished, they didn't have a permit, and foreign nationals aren’t allowed to act in any old way. They didn't have a permit, because they didn't have a permit, because it wasn't (in accordance) with procedures", said Denpasar municipal police operations division chief Police Commander I Made Uder when contacted.
In addition to this, according to Uder, today is part of a series of Nyepi Holiday (Day of Silence) events and there should not be any festivities held in front of the Bajra Sandhi monument.
"We will have the Nyepi holiday, silent day, they must also respect this, but instead they made a commotion. Foreigners, certainly there must be procedures, there's a consulate in Indonesia, there are rules, right", he said. (kdf/pmg)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "WNA Pedemo Perang Ukraina-Rusia di Bali Terancam Dideportasi".]
