T

housands of Balinese traditional guards, locally known as pecalang, have committed to safeguarding the island by establishing Pasikian Pecalang Bali, Bali'€™s Association of Traditional Guards.

Jero Gede Suwena Putus Upadesha, chairman of the Grand Council of Customary Villages (MUDP), said that the establishment of Pasikian Pecalang Bali was intended to strengthen the position and role of traditional guards within Balinese society.

'€œSo far, people only know that pecalang secure traditional and religious rituals. The fact is they are actively involved in many security programs to ensure the safety of residents and guests on the island of Bali,'€ Jero Gede said.

MUDP is an umbrella organization for nearly 1,488 customary villages across the island. Each customary village across the island has a pecalang team required to guard activities related to culture and religion in their respective
village.

Bali has both administrative and customary villages. An administrative village is a formal village. Meanwhile, a customary village is a unit for the purposes of adat, or customary law, and a community whose unity is based on customs and traditions.

A customary village is linked to a village temple and has control of its region and properties and has the right to administer its own internal affairs.

Although pecalang were initially obliged to safeguard culture and religious activities, Jero Gede said that traditional guards had also committed to play an active role in safeguarding the island.

Any pecalang was ready to participate in securing the island from security threats. '€œAs good citizens, all of us have the obligation to keep our island safe from any threat. That'€™s why we are committed to participating in safeguarding our island,'€ Jero Gede said.

Over the years, pecalang have played an active role in the island'€™s security teams.

Pecalang were involved in safeguarding the Miss World pageant in September, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and many other international events held in Bali.

Pasikian Pecalang Bali will enable all pecalang all over Bali to implement their duties and mission properly, in accordance with the association'€™s guidelines.

'€œWe will prepare a code of ethics for pecalang to provide them with clear guidance on their jobs,'€
he said.

He admitted there were many people acting as pecalang working in parking lots, at concert venues and even in nightclubs or bars.

'€œThey are not real pecalang. They are acting and dressed up as pecalang,'€ he explained.

Head of Bali Cultural Agency, Ketut Suastika, said he was glad to see the establishment of Pasikian Pecalang Bali.

'€œThe pecalang organization will redefine and reinforce the real roles of pecalang in maintaining security on the island,'€ Suastika said.

Suastika also expected that Pasikian Pecalang Bali would be able to provide training and improve the knowledge of its members.