While most travelers in Indonesia are respectful, the sad truth is that there are also a lot of foreign tourists who think they can get away with being arrogant assholes in this country.
Yesterday, a taxi driver, 34-year-old DN, refused to take five Middle Eastern men and a woman because they didn’t agree on the fare. He had every right to refuse them, but it led DN become the victim of a completely unjust beating.
“So it all started when the foreigners wanted to get in the taxi to get from Gambir Station to Kuningan, South Jakarta. But because [the tourists] only offered Rp 50,000, the victim refused and told them to find another taxi,” said an unnamed police officer, as quoted by Warta Kota yesterday.
This apparently enraged the Middle Eastern men and they went on to punch and kick DN until security guards and police officers intervened.
The tourists were then taken to the Gambir Police Station. Curiously, the Gambir Police Chief didn’t confirm that the beating actually happened.
“What time did it happen? There have been no reports in the Gambir precinct. We’ll have a look later,” said Gambir Police Chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro yesterday.
Perhaps this is a sensitive issue that the police chose to sweep under the rug.
