Banjar: The local community power in Bali

Every area in Bali is run by a local banjar with the male heads of each family representing each family. This traditional town council meets twice a month at the banjar pavilion in a central location, close to the Pura Desa, or village temple. The banjar are adjudicators of adat, traditional law and determine dates for religious events, collect money for ceremonies, allocate temple maintenance, oversee land sales and on occasion dish out punishment.

Membership to the banjar is mandatory for each married man (no I am not in banjar Seminyak, you have to be a Balinese). The banjar has its own system of lending locals money for equipment. At the banjar-pavilion everyone takes a turn at cooking, cleaning and performing menial duties. The leader of the banjar is elected and approved by the Gods via a medium.

The banjar have generally been a good thing for Bali and during the riots in 1999 banjar Kuta patrolled to keep rioting youths from destroying tourist infrastructure. Some rogue elements do exist though and Ika told me she has heard of banjar members stopping Javanese girls in the street demanding to see ID cards. Those without cards are sometimes raped. Ika said they usually try this on hookers using the rationale, You service other men, why not us too?

The banjar is the main force that prevents the Balinese becoming a disenfranchised population like the Hawaiians. It insists locals are used for construction and hired as staff. During religious events the banjar will determine what streets are blocked off and theis is enforced by the banjar traffoc cops called pecalang.