In Reply to: Banjar Mafia posted by Montague Ball on Friday, 6. March 2009 at 21:01 Bali Time:
..are actually an old tradition in Bali. In the smaller villages you can still see their 'posts'where they sit at night to keep an eye on things. Over the past few years the institution has become more formalized, with large groups appearing during ceremonies to keep order. Sadly it is only to be expected that it can and will go wrong in some cases. But seriously, these kinds of extortionist, maffia-type practices are absolutely NOT unique to Bali. People who persist in seeing Bali as a 'Paradise' will continue to be shocked by behavior that doesn't seem to fit into their fantasies. Please remember that Bali was previously one of the most violent places in the archipelago, a place to be avoided!! I am NOT defending these sort of practices, just trying to put a perspective on it.