Thousands In Bali Sign Petition Against Late Night Noise In Canggu

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Thousands of locals in Canggu and surrounding areas have signed an online petition calling the government to take action against late night noise in the tourism hotspot. The petition titled ‘Eradicate Noise Pollution in Canggu’ calls on President Joko Widodo, Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies Sandiaga Uno, and Bali Governor Wayan Koster to create solutions to the increasing disturbances in the area. 

The petition has been signed by local Balinese people, other Indonesian people living and working in the area, and long-term international residents. The petition highlights not only the impacts of noise pollution by the unruly behavior of some international tourists observed by some locals.

The petition focuses on how the public image of Canggu is not one of the ‘calm’ and spiritual Bali locals want to promote. Rather one of drunken and disorderly conduct, late-night noise, and even urinating in the street.

@talihanahill12 Gimme Gimme #bali #canggu #oldmans #vibes ♬ original sound – talihanahill12

The petition now has over 7,000 signatures and is written in the form of an open letter. The petition is also addressed to Bali’s Traditional Leaders, including the head of traditional councils for Canggu and Brawa and civil service leaders for Bali Province and Badung Regency, Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi and I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara. 

@ini.cala the night is young🍾 #vaultbali #balilife #canggu ♬ original sound – VolTrack

The petition can be found on the popular petition site change.org and is written in Bahasa Indonesia and English. The statement explores how it appeared that action was being taken against noise pollution in the area before the pandemic. The complainants state that since the pandemic, they feel that issues have been ignored and the situation is ‘worse than ever. 

The statement reads, ‘This unbearable nightly ruckus has denied basic human rights for people to rest at night, causing thousands of people: Balinese residents, expats, foreign and domestic tourists immediately to leave Canggu and Bali vowing never to return to Bali again’.

@canggus.co So much fun 🎉🎉✨ party in Canggu!! 😁 #nightclub #canggu #bali #nightlife #partytime ♬ Narco (Extended Mix) – Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet

Putri Dian, the voice behind the statements, makes it clear that the disturbances are affecting more and more people to an ever-increasing degree.

He writes, ‘In Canggu, almost every night of the week, every week, every month, before and now after the pandemic, it is NOT POSSIBLE for humans to rest or sleep at normal night hours. The booming sound from open bars in both Batu Bolong and in Brawa, next to Balinese holy temples, is so loud that it makes the windows and doors vibrate. Worse than an earthquake. This noise disturbance lasts every night until 1AM, 2AM, 3AM, and some bars even until 4AM!’

The petition goes on to state how the noise disturbance is not only an issue for locals and tourists but is fundamentally impacting Canggu’s spiritual and environmental peace. The statement explains, ‘Many of these clubs and bars are located directly adjacent to temples, including ‘Pura Kahyangan Jagat’, which are some of the most sacred in Bali. And next to it, indecent and disrespectful acts have been occurring, from drunkenness, sexual behaviors, urinating in the temple walls area, and possibly consumption of illegal substances’.

The statement also points out that the outcome of these disturbances has been fatal, citing how drunken road accidents are on the rise, as is fighting in the street. In July this year, a 25-year-old MMA fighter visiting Bali died in Canggu after crashing his moped into a drainage ditch. Dozens more tourists and locals find themselves in traffic-related collisions, many of which go unreported. 

Speaking to local reporters, the Chairman of the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (Hindu Council), Nyoman Kenak, responded to the statements made by the petition. A copy of the petition was also sent to representatives of the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia.

Kenak said, ‘it’s disturbing, of course, it’s not good for the image of Bali. Bali is currently building the image of a safe and comfortable Bali as the pandemic slows down. We support the enforcement of the rules by local officials and traditional villages’. 

The petition ends by extending gratitude to the government and hoping they will take ‘firm action’ as soon as possible.