Lombok Locals Hold Protests Ahead of MotoGP Mandalika Test

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A series of protests have taken place in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara ahead of the MotoGP pre-season test event at the newly built Mandalika Circuit slated for the end of this week. There are at least three separate protests from groups of local residents who feel they have been left out in the development of the international circuit. 

Citing Antaranews, one protest was held at a public street in front of the Mandalika Circuit Special Economic Area on Tuesday. Hundreds of youths joined in the Central Lombok Karang Taruna Indonesia gathered to voice their dissatisfaction by burning tires. 

The protest was aimed at the PT Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) which they claim have never involved local youths to work in the MotoGP event. Traffic was congested due to the protest. They then moved to another location at the ITDC headquarters.

“We will continue to protest if we are not involved in the MotoGP event at Mandalika,” said one protester, Srianom, in his oration which undermines the aspect of empowering local people in the international event. 

In a different event, hundreds of local transportation drivers, youths, and a village head forum of Pujut Subdistrict held a protest at the ITDC headquarters, demanding to be involved in the accommodation aspect of the international event. 

One representative of the protesters and village head, Ketara Lalu Buntaran, said the ITDC had duped local residents into believing they would be involved in its business activities that would help the local economy. 

One day before on Monday, February 7, dozens of local transportation drivers who are members of the West Nusa Tenggara Transportation Entrepreneurs