T

he long-established interfaith and intercultural harmony on the Hindu-majority island of Bali is being challenged by many social and economic problems.

The rocketing population, due to the influx of migrants to the island, has caused an economic burden on Balinese society and threatened the prevalent multicultural spirit.

These were two important issues discussed in a seminar on multiculturalism in Sanur, Bali, on Tuesday.

An anthropologist from Udayana University, IBG Pujaastawa, stated that history had proven the existence of tolerance and harmony among people from different backgrounds, ethnicities and religions on the island.

He said various traditions showing perfect acculturation between the Balinese and Chinese, Balinese and Muslims, and Balinese and Christians had enriched Balinese culture.

Citing an example, Pujaastawa said that many Chinese enclaves had been built throughout Bali during the period 900 BC to 1250 BC when many Chinese people sailed to the island for trade.

At present, these predominantly Chinese villages still exist, for example in Sangsit in Buleleng and Blahbatuh in Gianyar, as well as in other locations.

There are also many Muslim villages throughout the island, where Muslims live peacefully alongside their Hindu and Christian neighbors.

“Many temples in Bali demonstrate that multiculturalism existed hundreds of years ago,” Pujaastawa said, citing as an example Langgar temple in Bunutin village in Bangli, which features Hindu and Muslim elements.

“Despite this proof of longstanding harmony, Balinese society must remain on alert. There are many problems that could threaten the harmony and tolerance,” secretary of the Research Center on Tourism and Culture at Bali’s Udayana University explained.

Pujaastawa said that many problems could trigger conflict between people from diverse backgrounds. The problem with the highest potential was the wide economic gap between poor and rich; between locals and outsiders, as well as the population boom.

“The rising population, mostly triggered by immigrants, has caused economic, social and environmental problems,” he warned.

I Ketut Ardhana from the school of letters at Udayana University also reminded all stakeholders on the island to be aware of potential conflict. “Economic problems are the most sensitive issue that can trigger conflicts,” he said.

Ardhana said that a study to map potential conflicts throughout Bali was badly needed. “If we can carry out the study, we could map the most conflict-prone areas in Bali,” Ardhana said.

Yosep Yulius Diaz, coordinator of Flobamora Bali, an ethnic community group for people from Flores, Sumba and Timor, admitted that there was a very significant problem facing multicultural Bali.

“Miscommunication and uneven development have great potential to create conflict among people in the communities,” Diaz said.

The existence of the Forum Komunikasi Paguyuban Etnik Nusantara (FKPN — the Nusantara Ethnic Community Forum for Communication) was needed to anticipate any possible conflicts.

“This forum has an important role to manage good communications between different ethnicities and religions, and to anticipate conflict,” chairman of FKPN, Anak Agung Bagus Ngurah Agung, said.

Ngurah Agung said that there were now people from 35 different ethnic backgrounds living harmoniously in Bali with the Balinese.

“We really hope that we can always maintain harmony,” the prominent figure from Karangasem royal household stated.