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SNOWING IN BALI

Can’t the police protect you?

How long can police secure you . . . have you any guarantee that police can secure us forever . . . no. We say mobs or community organisation, but we don’t say Laskar Bali.

But in Bali, everybody knows, right?

Everybody knows. But the big problem will come to you when you mention Laskar Bali.

What is likely to happen?

I’m not sure they won’t kill me.

You think it’s possible?

Possible. They can beat you on the street, run up to you, intimidate you. So, one of our ways to protect ourselves is not to write that group’s name.

- Editor, one of Bali’s major newspapers

One night just after midnight, a group of Laskars turned up at a popular bar, the Red Room, in Legian, carrying Samurai swords, and stabbed a chef to death. It was a revenge hit. Laskar wanted to avenge one of its own, after a member was badly hurt a week earlier by security guards at Sky Garden Club in Legian - where Laskar had lost the security contract to a rival gang, Hercules.

The Red Room attack was strategically organised; with about ten of Laskar’s Seminyak members called to a secret meeting, and told to bring their Samurai swords. These men were all physically strong, a prerequisite to being accepted into the gang and given ID. If anyone got a call for a job, unless they had a

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