Bali Running Event Under Fire for Alleged Discrimination Against Indonesian Nationals

The organizers of a running event in the Canggu area of Bali have broken their silence regarding allegations of discrimination against Indonesian nationals (WNI). Through an Instagram post, the community, identifying as Entourage, denied accusations of rejecting Indonesian participants. Entourage expressed regret for the disappointment caused to those who were unable to participate and emphasized that they never intended to disrespect or discriminate against anyone. They explained that Entourage was founded as a community to connect digital nomads newly arriving in Bali, aiming to facilitate enjoyable activities together. They stated that being a digital nomad is not defined by citizenship and that their community includes members from various countries, including Indonesia. According to the organizers, some of their events are always open and free for anyone to join, while others have participation requirements based on the event's purpose. For instance, certain events are designed specifically for digital freelancers, while others, such as a walkathon and a workshop for women, are specifically for female participants. The event that drew criticism was the 'Disco Silent Run,' their first paid event, held on Wednesday, July 22. The organizers claimed that Indonesian nationals constituted the majority of participants in this event, at 25%. However, they admitted to facing technical issues with automatic approvals for WhatsApp groups and non-active events. "Although we tried to create a place where digital nomads can meet, a bias occurred, causing some (and not all) +62 numbers/Indonesian people to be improperly rejected," they stated. Entourage asserted that they will always strive to build an inclusive community and contribute positively to Bali. They also mentioned collaborating with local entrepreneurs and charities every week. Currently, Entourage has suspended all their events and activities. They acknowledged full responsibility for what has happened and pledged to make tangible changes in the future. The allegations of discrimination first surfaced after screenshots of conversations circulated, showing potential participants being selected based on their nationality. In one leaked screenshot, an individual claiming to be an Indonesian citizen was reportedly denied access to the community. Another screenshot circulating on Instagram showed a German national's application being accepted. The post triggered protests and questions from netizens regarding the alleged restriction of participants based on nationality. Ni Luh Djelantik, a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) from Bali, strongly protested the alleged discrimination and called for the Bali Immigration Office, Ngurah Rai Airport, and Bali Regional Police to intervene. Ni Luh stated that she has filed a report with the Immigration Office and Bali Regional Police regarding the alleged discrimination by foreigners in the event. She also urged law enforcement to investigate the possibility of the event operating without a permit. "And to the foreigners who do not accept Indonesian citizens' membership, you are doing this in Bali, this is our homeland," Ni Luh said via her Instagram account.