Denpasar, Bali – August 30, 2025.
The heart of Denpasar’s Renon district turned into a flashpoint on Saturday night as Bali Protests over police conduct grew increasingly tense. Demonstrators, including students, youth, and online motorcycle taxi drivers, moved from the Bali Police Headquarters to the front of the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Bali), holding their ground late into the night.
Bali Protests Shut Down Major Road in Renon
By 5 p.m. local time, authorities were forced to close Jalan Cok Agung Tresna, a major thoroughfare usually bustling with food stalls and evening crowds. Restaurants and vendors shut their doors as demonstrators occupied the street, creating an unusual blackout in one of Renon’s busiest areas.
Fires and Standoff With Police
Around 8:30 p.m., protesters blocked the road with piles of burning trash in front of Renon’s culinary center. The situation escalated when the crowd tried to approach police barricades guarded by tactical units.
Police responded with rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd. Protesters retreated toward Jalan Tukad Unda but refused to leave the area. Some carried sticks, iron rods, and stones, raising fears of further clashes.
Protesters Speak Out Against Police Arrogance
Many demonstrators said their anger was fueled by what they called police arrogance and mistreatment of civilians. “We cannot accept how the police treat people. This is our resistance,” one protester told reporters, declining to give his name.
The Bali Protests have drawn together various groups, united by frustration toward law enforcement, and show no signs of easing.
Journalist Intimidated During Bali Protests
Amid the unrest, a troubling incident raised concerns over press freedom. Fabiola Dianira, a journalist from detikBali, reported being intimidated by plainclothes officers while covering the protests.
She said the officers prevented her from taking photos of arrests and forcibly tried to check her phone. “They grabbed my hand and demanded I show them photos, even though I hadn’t taken any yet,” she recounted.
Despite identifying herself as a journalist, she was ordered to delete images and briefly detained in a parking lot before her belongings were returned. The incident highlighted the growing risks journalists face while reporting on the Bali Protests.
Ongoing Tension in Bali
As of late Saturday night, police continued heavy patrols in Renon. Authorities have urged residents and tourists to avoid the area until the situation stabilizes.
The Bali Protests not only disrupted daily life in Denpasar but also underscored the fragile relationship between police and the public in Indonesia’s most popular tourist destination.
This article was reported and written by Ferry Fadly and Giostanovlatto, journalists of Bali Today News, for timebusinessnews.com.
