It is not everyday that the famous Jatiluwih rice terraces lose their perfect, postcard-like view. Yet that is exactly what happened when farmers lined parts of the landscape with metal sheets and long stretches of black plastic. It caught visitors off guard. But for the farmers, it was the only way to make people pay attention.
The protest began on Thursday when several plots of farmland were sealed by the authorities. The farmers responded by blocking the panoramic curves of the terraces, the very scenery shaped through generations of their labor. For years, these fields have drawn travelers from across Indonesia and from abroad, becoming one of Bali’s most photographed spots. UNESCO even declared the Jatiluwih Subak a World Cultural Heritage site back in 2012.
Long before that recognition, farmers had already built a few small restaurants to earn extra income and support tourism. Those establishments grew alongside the rising number of visitors who came for the views. But that same growth is now threatening Jatiluwih’s UNESCO status, largely due to development that authorities say has spiraled beyond control.
Agus Pamuji Wardana, who represents the farmers and manages the Gong Jatiluwih Restaurant, explained why the farmers resorted to such a drastic move. The government sealed 13 restaurants owned by locals, citing two main reasons. First, the entire subak area is designated as a green zone where construction is restricted. Second, the site holds UNESCO cultural heritage status, which demands strict preservation.
According to Agus, many farmers never knew the land was classified as a green zone. They have lived and worked there for decades. What shocked them even more was that the sealing, he said, was done unilaterally by the Special Committee for TRAP of the Bali DPRD and the Civil Service Police Unit, without any formal notice.
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“The government considers it a world cultural heritage. The real damage comes from the tourism area itself. We built the facilities because tourism there needs support infrastructure. If the farmers’ businesses are considered harmful to the environment, then it is better if tourism does not exist in Jatiluwih.”
His frustration did not stop there. He explained why the farmers intentionally disrupted the view. “So they put up the metal sheets so people can see them. All this time, visitors have only enjoyed the view. The farmers want to disrupt that view.”
By the time Agus delivered his statement at the Bali Civil Service Police Unit Office, the message had already spread: the beauty people come to admire was created by the same hands now feeling sidelined. And through this unusual protest, the farmers made sure no one could ignore that.
