Sea Turtle Release Ceremony Members brutally attacked by two Major Kingpins of the illegal Sea Turtle Trade in Tanjung, Bali.

August 2000

The Ceremonial "Sea Turtle Release Event" conducted by a renowned Balinese High Priest and the environmental group Earth Advocates went sour when two of the major Sea Turtle dealers attacked the peaceful gathering, which included a television crew from TVRI. In a radical attempt to disrupt the ceremony the top Kingpin, known as Mr. Wewe, attacked Robin Marinos, a leading environmental advocate by throwing gasoline on him and his vehicle. The other major Turtle dealer, known as Mr. Imanuel, also twice attempted to attack Mr. Marinos. Both attackers romping around the Tanjung beach and market area, were using vulgar language and threatening ceremony members, in an attempt to incite chaos and violence. They seemed to get more frustrated when their terror tactics did not receive the intended response from the crowd. At that point, Mr. Wewe resorted to using gasoline. After Wewe squirted gasoline on Mr. Marinos and the car, the Ceremony members quickly left Tanjung, and continued the ceremonial Turtle release on Nusa Dua's main beach, releasing 4 brutalized Green Turtles costing 2,600,000 Rupiah (approx. $ US 300), which otherwise would have been slaughtered. Criminal charges have been file against the two Kingpins for using a deadly weapon and attempting to incite a riot.

Despite the abrupt attack on ceremony members, the Turtle release commenced from Bali's most popular Nusa Dua beach. Here the High Priest and the Earth Advocate, Joan, help a large Green Sea Turtle to the water line.

During the last 10 years an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Sea Turtles have been brutally slaughtered in the Tanjung Bali Slaughter Houses despite the International CITES agreements protecting Sea Turtles, of which Indonesia is a member. Since 1997 the Earth Advocates have been campaigning to enforce the CITES agreements and close down the horrible and embarrassing Slaughter Grounds forever which taint the Balinese otherwise good reputation and pure traditions beliefs. There still exists the false belief, that killing and consuming Turtle is traditional on Bali. One can read about the "religious truth" which states the opposite, that the Turtle in fact is one of the most sacred animals on earth. Read the religious truth under Reports 'Ancient Mariner'.

The 1998 inclusion of the renowned Balinese High Priest in the Earth Advocates campaign, emphasized the Balinese religious truths and discounts previous misconceptions. This is a vital factor in causing the national government to include the Green Sea Turtle, as all Sea Turtles, in the Highly Protected Species Law of 1999, thus eliminating the facade once used by some to protect the Turtle Dealers. Despite the new protection law however, implementing and enforcing the law has been blocked due to various reasons including the repeated threats by the dealers through social unrest and 'back handers' being paid by the handful of dealers led by the unscrupulous Mr. Wewe, an ethnic Chinese. Actually, non of the major dealers are even Balinese. In fact, there are very few Balinese people who profit from this illegal business, especially since many tourists have boycotted visiting Bali due to the mere existence of the Sea Turtle trade the slaughterhouses. The Balinese people and government, and especially those living in and around Tanjung would be better served economically if the Tanjung township would be converted into a Marina or Water park, the town being perfectly positioned to cater to tourism, the prime location between Bali's 'High End' tourists in Nusa Dua and the main Harbour/Marina of Benoa surrounded by the sea and Mangroves.

Tanjung, the geographically perfect positioned township for the development of a successful Marina and Tourist park would much better serve the people living in Tanjung.

The only ones who profit from the illegal Turtle trade business are the five or so dealers and the corrupt officials protecting those unscrupulous dealers. The average laborer working for these dealers, earns far less than the minimum wage. Further, those living around the operations have no access to the beach because they are lined with illegal holding pens full of dying Turtles and slaughtered Turtle parts.
The Health hazards of decaying Turtle parts being washed down current to the unlucky Tourist swimming off Nusa Dua's lovely beaches cannot be calculated. Another good reason for the authorities to close down this operation !

We know that only few profit from this trade. The negative consequences of continuing are devastating to the Tanjung population and township, to Bali and the Balinese religion, to Indonesia's reputation, to the environment and its ecosystem, and the once thriving Turtle population in the Archipelago.
In considering all these factors, the Government has an obligation to finally close down these operations without hesitation. The threats of public unrest can be put down to five or so dealers and lawbreakers. Interestingly, they did not successfully rally the public to attack the peaceful ceremony audience. This was one of the most encouraging observations of August 10, 2000.

As this years Ceremonial Turtle Release Action came to a close, four wounded Sea Turtles were given another chance to live. This in contrast to the 400 plus who probably would not live past the weekend of 'Kuningan and Manis Kuningan'. Ironically, this is the end of the period celebrating the relationship between God, Nature, and People, a festive period tainted by misuse of Sea Turtles to satisfy greed and religious oblivion by only some Balinese. One week earlier, 400 to 500 turtles were traded and slaughtered without interference by authorities or Environmental Representatives, not to mention the ineffective and uncommitted approach by the WWF turtle restoration program on Bali existing since 1993. Now the approach must change, the strategy to confront the pillager and lawbreakers directly and with commitment.

This annual Sea Turtle Release Ceremony at least has made a difference, as have the prior ones. Each has progressively moved the campaign one step further to eliminating this evil operation in Indonesia. This time the actions of the Turtle dealers were those of desperation on a sinking ship. Actions of Tyrants who don't want to loose their power and money at any cost ? Without regard for agreements, laws, ethics and morals. This time however, they will be criminally charged on at least two counts. Their characters, their actions, and their intentions, will be seriously questioned in a court of law. This time they will have to answer for their actions!