The official reason given involves a string of misinformation. Like, ‘The state owned importer forgot to order anything’, or ‘The customs department is in the state of reorganization’, or ‘This is all connected with a smuggling ring where the smugglers are using counterfeit duty seals’. One has to smile because this kind of reasoning or rather an attempt of deception or, perhaps, a deflection repeated time and time again in Indonesia when something goes wrong is actually amusing. But, if one looks long at the snippets between the lines, one will find the real reason. The Indonesian Military (TNI) control the alcohol business in Bali. The TNI operate mostly clandestine businesses in Indonesia, such as alcohol and security for major foreign corporations. Now, I ask you, who even thought of making the military in charge of Alcohol distribution? So, now in Bali, there is now an initiative from the civilian administration headed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to separate the TNI from running any business at all.

Recently, the International community have been encouraging the civilian administration AKA the Indonesian Government to get their armed forces out of politics and business. Part of this process was to have the TNI publicly reveal all of the official companies that they are in charge of. The TNI reported they only control 6 businesses and most of those are owned along with the civilian administration / government. They further stated that they do not keep any money in the businesses they operate and use the state assets to keep the businesses running. I’ll drink to that.

Libations Bali is a post from: VidMama

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