Jerinx, the tattoo-covered drummer-cum-activist from Bali punk rock band Superman is Dead, publicly criticized the anti-social behavior of Kuta tourists via his personal instagram account, tagging Governor Wayan Koster in the controversial post.
The photo, which was reposted by Jerinx from @telebali two days ago, shows a caucasian man blocking the road and holding up traffic, presumably in some kind of drunken stunt. In his lengthy caption, the drummer said that it’s this kind of delinquent behavior that’s putting ‘quality’ tourists off his neighborhood, Kuta.
“Fact: This kind of white supremacy mentality of tourists makes Kuta increasingly quiet. Quality tourists tend to avoid Kuta due to the behavior of the white trash,” reads part of the caption.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvIh1TcHEjd/
It’s true the Kuta has a bit of a reputation for attracting rowdy tourists and Australian high school graduates on “schoolies,” and it’s no wonder with the affordable accommodation options and late-night bars selling cheap booze. Coconuts Bali has reported on a number of incidents involving loutish foreigners, including a street-side smackdown between two shirtless muscle men, and an allegedly ‘shroomed-up woman wandering zombie-like into the Kuta traffic.
According to Jerinx, the problem started in recent years after the government allowed tourists from a number of countries, including Australia, to enter Indonesia without having to pay for a visa.
“Since it’s been visa-free, Bali has been flooded with rejects and tacky behavior,” he wrote. “If you see tourists like this, don’t tolerate this. Remind him if his behavior is causing a mess,” he writes.
Foreign business owners in Bali also come under fire, with the impassioned rocker accusing them of racist marketing tactics.
“Please also note, many of these white supremacist tourists open businesses in Bali with racist marketing tactics. The simplest example: opening dozens of tattoo studios with a marker/sticker that says “OWNED BY AUSSIE,” while all staff are local. Why try if it’s not to demean a locally owned tattoo studio?” he writes.
Jerinx appealed to Governor Wayan Koster and Giri Prasta, the Regent of Badung, to do something to improve the situation.
“If@gubernur.bali @giri.prasta really loves Bali, let’s quickly arrange a filtering system for tourists entering Bali.”
Exactly what kind of filtering system he meant, or how it would be implemented, was not explained in the post.
Jerinx is part of Kuta-based punk rock icons Superman is Dead, an award-winning three-man band that has taken their music on tours to Australia and the US as well as throughout Indonesia.
He’s known as a controversial figure, and is one of Bali’s most openly opinionated musicians. Together with his bandmates, he has campaigned tirelessly against the Benoa Bay reclamation project, appealing personally to President Jokowi, and rallying fans for the cause.
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