In light of recent events highlighting racial and religious tensions in Indonesia, Bali’s police chief is encouraging the public to remain calm and respectful.
Bali Police Chief Insp. Gen. Sugeng Priyanto hopes the island can maintain the peace and harmony reestablished since the two Bali bombings.
“I’m telling the public not to spread hatred,” Priyanto said in Sanur on Wednesday, as quoted by Detik.
According to the Bali’s highest ranking police official, people who choose to engage in hateful language can be prosecuted for under “UU ITE”, a national law that prohibits any form of hate speech in terms of ethnicity, religion, race, and inter-group relations.
“Do not use hate speech because it’s a violation of the law. Additionally, let us maintain a situation in Bali that’s conducive to preventing potential damage,” the two-star general said.
While bestowing these notions of respect and tolerance while in Sanur, Priyanto added that the tightening of security that’s been happening in Bali since the Interpol conference, has not been loosened and will stay in place until an undisclosed time.
