Angry residents plant bananas on damaged road

Dozens of residents from Kerobokan Kelod village, Badung, took to the streets on Monday afternoon to voice their disappointment over what they perceived as the government’s lack of attention to the poor conditions of the village’s roads.

They planted banana plants in one huge pothole on the Kerobokan–Seminyak road, a busy and important tourism thoroughfare that connects Kuta and Nusa Dua with popular destinations in Tabanan and Badung.

 The protest triggered a traffic jam that lasted several hours.

The residents claimed that during one day alone, four motorcyclists had fallen after hitting the pothole. They hung a cardboard sign with the words “pajak gen amah ci” (you devour the tax but give nothing in return) on the banana plant.

“This is a spontaneous action after the residents witnessed four accidents in just one day. We will stay here until the damage is being repaired,” said Nyoman Sadia, the chairman of the village’s Community Empowerment Organization (LPM).

“We are extremely disappointed. The government seems not to have any concern for the safety of its residents,” he said

Workers from the provincial Public Works Agency finally repaired the damaged road at 7:30 p.m. local time, about three hours after the protest began. Upon seeing this, the protesters dispersed and returned to their homes.

Damaged roads in many regencies on Bali have angered many locals.

The previous day, villagers from Yehembang village in Jembrana regency planted banana plants in potholes along the main road that connects the island’s capital Denpasar with Gilimanuk ferry port. On Sunday, the Public Works Agency repaired the damage road.

According to agency data, of the 860.53 kilometers of road that falls under the provincial administration’s jurisdiction, about 17-20 percent is in need of repair.

— JP/Ni Komang Erviani