The creation of the Dharma Dewata Tourism Task Force is already having an impact across Bali’s top tourism resorts.
Earlier this week, officers confirmed the arrest of a Ukrainian national found to be engaging in criminal activities and having overstayed his visa. In the popular community of Sayan, just outside Ubud, leaders have come together to partner with the Tourism Task Force and formally become an Immigration Assistance Village.
Sayan Village, located just outside of central Ubud, is a popular community for immigrants and longer-staying tourists. There are many private rental villas that are leased by foreigners who are residing in the area on a mid to long-term basis. Sayan Village also incorporates Penestanan Kaja and Penestanan Kelod, two villages that have long been a home-away-from-home for foreigners in Bali.
Sayan Village has now officially been designated an Immigration Assistance Village. According to officials, this designation is a strategic step to help strengthen oversight of the presence and activities of foreign nationals in Bali while maintaining social stability in the increasingly popular tourism area.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, 23rd April, the Acting Head of Sayan Village, Jro Mangku Ketut Gede Kesumawijaya, confirmed that the inauguration took place in the Sabha Darma Adhyaksa Meeting Room of the Sayan Village Service Office in a small meeting on Wednesday.
Representatives from the Directorate General of Immigration, the Bali Immigration Office, regional heads, and the Sayan Village Community Empowerment Agency (Bandamdes) were also present.
Kesumawijaya told reporters that Sayan becoming an Immigration Assistance Village is, in part, a preventative measure to help maintain order and security in the community amidst the increasing number of foreigners residing in and visiting the Sayan area.
He explained, “Through this program, villages are expected to play an active role in assisting with monitoring and reporting foreign national activities, so that potential legal violations can be prevented early.”
Bali Immigration has cited several issues of concern, including common crimes such as theft, fraud, and violence involving foreign nationals.
Both Bali Immigration and Bali Police are also increasingly committed to cracking down on transnational crimes such as drug networks, human trafficking, human smuggling, and cybercrime and these monitoring efforts go a long way in catching out criminals who try to hide away in unsuspecting villages in Bali.
From now on, immigration authorities, through the Dharma Dewata Immigration Task Force and officers from the Sayan Immigration Assistance Village team, will conduct routine surveillance and enforcement operations.
Immigration Administrative Actions (TAK), such as fines, revocation of residence permits, detention in Immigration Detention Centers, deportation, and denial of re-entry to Indonesia, will be strictly enforced.
The new Dharma Dewata Immigration Task Force will be out on patrol throughout Bali’s leading tourist resorts and areas where there are high concentrations of foreign residents. The creation of the new task force comes as Indonesian Immigration and the Bali Provincial Government level up their commitment to cracking down on crime, improving security, and ensuring that foreigners are not conducting immigration violations during their time in the province.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Dharma Dewata Task Force Team in Denpasar last week, Indonesia’s Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, told the officers, “This is a concrete step to maintain stability and security in Bali as Indonesia’s leading tourist destination.”
Adding “We will continue to intensify surveillance operations, both through routine patrols at the regional level and nationally, to maintain security stability and increase public trust in Immigration.”
At the same time as launching the Dharma Dewata Task Force, the Indonesian Immigration has also created the Village Guidance Immigration Officers (PIMPASA) in Bali.
These officers will work especially closely with village-based teams, such as those in the Sayan Immigration Assistance Village, to provide comprehensive immigration surveillance in areas prone to violations.
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