Increasing cases of violence involving Balinese indicates changes in Balinese attitude in respond to arising conflicts. Conflicts related to heired legacy, cemetery land, or village border which supposed to be in civil jurisdiction translated into violence classifiable as criminal conduct. In some cases heired legacy conflict results in assassination. Increasing popularity of nightlife with sprouting cafes in rural villages is also vulnerable to conflicts in addition to increasing number of teenage villagers engaged in prostitution.

There are a number of parameters to look into the picture of criminality. In addition to criminal cases taking place every day, mass violence initiated by cultural reason also deserves attention as it retain potential to translate into criminal case. Cultural reasoned mass violences are normally initiated by traditional conflicts such as heired legacy, cemetery land, or village border.

Concern for increasing mass violence initiated by cultural conflicts expressed by Balinese community leaders as well as national officials including The Minister of Internal Affairs. In his speech conducted in the 49th anniversary of Bali provincial government last year the minister expressed his views about the tendency of increasing temper in Balinese community when it came to resolving conflict. Evidences supporting the minister’s statement started to reveal these days. The most recent case was recurring old conflict between villagers of Semana and Ambengan in Ubud. The conflict which was initiated by seize of cemetery ground remained unresolved even after involvement of The Regent of Gianyar. Similar cases in Gianyar include Pakudui, Muling-Sumita, Tampaksiring, and border seizing conflict between Ubud and Mas. Gianyar seems to retain the highest potential for cultural conflicts.

Similar cases arose in Brembeng village of Tabanan regency was also initiated by cemetery land. Conflict between two villages seizing borders between Bajera and Lenganan invited serious alert to both local officials and police force following rumors of attacks to be made between the two. Similar cases also arose in other regencies including village border case in Karangasem and temple conflict in Klungkung.

Comprehensive approach is required involving both cultural influence as well as security for sustainable solution. Among reasons of tourists for visiting Bali is Balinese charming attitude. In addition to direct effect such as property damages, conflicts may also indirectly affect tourism industry which has been Bali’s economic backbone for decades.