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undreds of people have staged a rally in Denpasar to reject a planned reclamation project in Benoa Bay featuring both traditional and modern performances.

Held in front of the Bali Governor'€™s office on Saturday, poet Wayan Sunarta, more commonly known as Jengki from the Balinese Forum Against Reclamation (ForBali) read out a poem Sajak Seorang Tua di Bawah Pohon (An old people'€™s poem under the tree) by well-known Indonesian poet WS Rendra.

The rally also featured a variety of dance performances, including traditional Jempiring, Cendrawasih, Barong and Topeng (Mask) performed by a variety of groups. Music was provided by the Deep Sea Explorer band.

'€œAfter three years, we continue to reject the reclamation plan as the project will only damage Bali'€™s environment,'€ ForBali spokesperson, Suriadi Darmoko, said.

The reclamation project began on December 2012 when Bali Governor granted private investor PT Tirta Wahana Bali Internasional (TWBI) permission to develop and reclaim Benoa Bay as part of an integrated tourist development area. TWBI was granted the right to manage 838 hectares of land in Benoa Bay over a 30-year period with a possible 20-year extension.

The company planned to build luxury tourist facilities, including a Disneyland-like theme park, apartments, hotels, villas, entertainment centers, a hospital and a university campus. The letter that was signed by Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika, however, was revoked by the governor on August 2013 after strong opposition from locals.

The plan, however, was not stopped. In 2014, despite numerous protests, then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued Presidential Regulation No. 51/2014, which once more permitted the reclamation. The regulation addressed spatial planning issues by redesignating Benoa Bay as a business zone, whereas it was previously a designated environmental buffer zone and green-belt area.

Several groups have conveyed their support for the project. '€œWe, the Balinese people, are hoping and waiting for President Jokowi to speed up the approval for the Benoa Bay revitalization based on reclamation,'€ said chairperson of Kita Satu Bali (Our One Bali) joint forum Kadek Agus Ekanata in a press release on Thursday

On Saturday, the protesters demanded President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo to revoke Presidential Regulation No. 51/2014.

Suriadi Darmoko, who is also executive director of The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) Bali, said that the government should designate Benoa Bay as a conservation area again.

'€œRejection of the Benoa Bay plan is still strong. It is not true that Balinese people support the reclamation plan,'€ Suriadi said.