Movements against the dog meat trade have arisen in many provinces in Indonesia. In 2018, the Director General of Livestock and Animal Health in the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture issued a Circular Letter to increase supervision of the DMTD. This Circular Letter applies throughout Indonesia, nevertheless, it does not impose sanctions for violators. Several Regents in Indonesia issued similar Circulars from 2018 onwards as the DMTD became recognised as a national issue.
This article highlights the lobbying strategies (Sintesia prefer to use the term “engagement”) used by Sintesia Animalia Indonesia (Sintesia) to engage with the Bali Government to achieve Indonesia’s first legal ban on the dog meat trade and distribution (DMTD) in the province of Bali in 2023. The Social Order Bali regional regulation (Perda) recognises the DMTD as a criminal offence with penalties of up to 3 months imprisonment or 5 million rupiah (approximately USD 3,200) fine. Since the first implementation in February 2024, there have been 13 successful DMTD prosecutions. The Perda also prohibits animal abuse and abandonment.
In the intricate system of Indonesian democracy, lobbying serves as a potent instrument to influence policy and law makers to formulate desirable policies and laws. This includes animal welfare, which is increasingly being recognized as an important concern. Our engagement with the government to end the DMTD emphasized the importance of the DMTD as a critical One-Health issue, including food safety risks and the potential spread of rabies, as well as being a cruel trade that could affect Bali’s international reputation and tourism industry. Of course, we also advocated for the compassionate treatment of animals as a legal and moral imperative.
Sintesia was formed as an Indonesian Yayasan (Not-For-Profit) in 2022 by merging Animals International’s Indonesian team (Animals International being the global arm of Animals Australia (AA))and Bali Animal Defender (an Indonesian Yayasan also funded by AA). Sintesia was established with love and commitment, and the aspirations to promote a message of change through respectful and responsible dialogue to foster sustainable improvements in animal welfare.
Sintesia’s Indonesian, decolonised approach
This approach is foundational to Sintesia and is a key feature of its engagement with the government. The approach emphasises decolonisation as an essential component that shapes the direction of conversation aimed at transforming thoughts and advancing them into movements for sustainable improvement. The terms “decolonisation” or “decolonised approach” refer to the reversing of the structures of colonialism and allowing previously colonised countries, (1) like Indonesia, to take control of the narrative and empower their own people. Sintesia has been fortunate to have been funded by Animals Australia, which has ensured that we have been provided with the resources and support to develop and drive our own culturally relevant interventions, rather than having these driven by a foreign funding organization.1 A critical element of our decolonized approach has been for us as Indonesians to encourage other Indonesians, including in Government, to recognize animal welfare issues and create the solutions that align with culture and local wisdom.
Understanding Indonesia's history and geography helps explain why this strategy is so important. Indonesia is a vast archipelago with over 300 ethnic groups with diverse culture, languages, and religions. People from different ethnicities may consume dog meat as part of their culture or tradition. This raises sensitivities, and an outright ban may be seen as infringing the cultural rights of these Indonesian people. Nevertheless, the cultural context and beliefs, particularly the religious values, are valuable in guiding the discussions that mutually respect these cultural and religious values.
Importantly too, the Indonesian motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or "Unity in Diversity," reflects a commitment to inclusivity, advocating for a non-judgmental approach that respects all cultures and religions without diminishing any specific tradition. Pancasila which means 'Five Principle' is a philosophical guide and emphasises the necessity of respectful dialogue. This intricacy underscores the significance of social order in a diverse community, as reflected in Indonesian laws and policies.
Animals Australia engaged with the Bali Government before and after exposing the cruel DMTD in Bali on the highly reputable Australian news program 7.30 ABC in 2017. The Bali Governor then issued a Governor Circular Letter seeking data on the trade. Responding to this, we (2 Balinese veterinarians conducted research to characterise the DMTD in Bali, including identifying outlets and investigating the sociodemographics and attitudes of traders. The findings were unexpected by the government, which believed that as Bali is a predominantly Hindu province, the DMTD would not be widespread and that no Balinese Hindus would be involved as dog meat eating is antithetical to their beliefs. Although Bali respects dogs for their significant role in society, as evidenced in Hindu scripture, the research demonstrated the involvement of the Balinese in the DMTD, including Hindus. This evidence-based approach persuaded the Government that the DMTD was a problem and needed to be addressed strategically. Our non-judgmental, decolonized approach also enabled us to examine the DMTD through frank discussions with the traders and to understand the underlying factors, including poverty and lack of education, and to discuss these with the government.
Not every ethnicity, religion, or social groups within society share perspectives that accord with the message we advocate. For example, some Christian ethnic groups in Indonesia have a long-established tradition of dog meat eating. Criticism of cultural or religious traditions is a sensitive topic in Indonesia, including for the government. Accordingly, Sintesia works with the beliefs and values of different communities. We remind people of how their religion tells them that they should treat animals, including Bali Hinduism’s Tri Hita Karana (three-causes of well-being), and Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ (Praised Be) for Catholics, and the Hadiths in Islam.
By highlighting that no religion condones the cruel treatment of animals and that compassion is a fundamental tenet across faiths, we create a common ground that transcends cultural differences. This approach not only encourages understanding but also inspires collective action toward more humane practices, reinforcing the idea that respect for animals is a shared moral responsibility rooted in the core values of diverse belief systems. This approach is also supported by the Government, which has a duty to maintain social order and prevent divisions between different ethnic and religious groups in Indonesia.
As part of our Indonesian approach, we were also polite and used knowledge and facts rather than emotive language to engage with the government. We also empathised with the government regarding their heavy workloads and lack of budgets, instead of using blame as a tool. We often received feedback that we were different from other animal welfare groups they had dealt with because we offered solutions and help instead of just raising problems.
Evidence-based One Health approach
We used an evidence-based One Health approach that emphasised the interconnection of human and animal health and welfare, and environmental health to convey a more compelling message to the government about the DMTD. This approach emphasised the necessity of improving animal welfare not only for the animals but to benefit both humanity and the environment. Presenting comprehensive scientific evidence was persuasive to the government, which led to new regulations to ban the DMTD and to establish enforcement practices. Using a One Health approach enhanced the credibility of our advocacy efforts and increased the government’s recognition of the need for a strategic response to the DMTD.
As part of our ongoing research, we continue to collect and analyse data on how the DMTD operates and how it impacts the potential for zoonotic transmission, other human health risks, environmental contamination and impacts on social order and tourism.
Working with the government
The complexities of animal welfare often involve multifaceted challenges, including cultural and religious beliefs, economic considerations and political dynamics. An effective dialogue with the government must be rooted in understanding, allowing each party to engage in constructive conversation that transcends differences. When we urged the government on the need for education, regulation and enforcement to close the DMTD, we also offered our support and assistance.
Animal welfare discussions with the government can be challenging, but through our seven years’ experience, we have established our integrity as a trustworthy organization: our word is our word and we maintain confidence. Sintesia also doesn’t undertake covert operations but uses its position to assist the government in responding to animal welfare issues, including those that have emerged in the public arena from covert operations.
Fostering a constructive conversation with the government remains a primary aim of Sintesia, including in our DMTD project. Some Government officers have had bad experiences with some animal welfare advocacy and activist groups that inadvertently disregarded the “Indonesian, decolonized approach”, tried to impose views and practices that did not resonate with local values and sensitivities, or criticised the government in the media. These activities close doors that will take a long time to reopen.
Sintesia's initiative to end the DMTD encompasses not just lobbying efforts but also sustained engagement with the government agencies, particularly the Satpol Community Police, who are responsible for maintaining social order and enforcing the Perda. The conversation generated and the observed facts have culminated in Satpol’s determination to recognise DMTD as a criminal offence and include it into regional regulations with legal penalties, which they proudly enforce.
Patience, consistency and resilience
Indonesian laws and civil service operate at a number of levels and can be perceived by some as bureaucratic. Further in Bali, there are also customary laws and Hindu laws. This means successful engagement requires patience, consistency, and resilience. Transforming existing animal welfare policy and achieving new laws is never a rapid process in Indonesia: it requires a tireless commitment to cultivating relationships and trust with the government and community and religious leaders. It is essential not to give up hope, and this also means remaining flexible and adaptable in our approaches and consistently open to alternative solutions or novel paths. Sintesia's pursuit of our ultimate objective to end the DMTD frequently faced challenges, necessitating the exploration of alternatives for progress. Fostering professional relationships and reciprocal support can improve the capacity to connect and collaborate. We acknowledge that significant change requires time, and although the process may be gradual, our commitment to achieving it strengthens our resolve. By maintaining dedication and fostering these relationships, we facilitate enduring influence in the pursuit of animal welfare.
CONCLUSION
Sintesia uses an Indonesian, decolonised, evidence-based One Health approach in which we work with the government to end the DMTD. We accept we need patience, consistency and resilience in engaging with the government to bring about animal welfare change in Indonesia. Sintesia, as a trustworthy government partner, has established a profile as a supportive, informative, knowledgeable, and educational organisation, while also holding the courage to present alternative perspectives to government. At the heart of this decolonised approach is the principle of allowing Indonesian people to recognise animal welfare issues as their own, and grow a responsibility to bring change, to direct the narrative, make a decision, and lead the movement. This respect for Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices is crucial when working with a nation with diverse groups, and a history of colonialism.
The education and engagement strategy to ban DMTD in Bali was presented at Afa Conference 2023 in Malaysia and can be accessed in Afa YouTube channel or link https://youtu.be/eRAwQDr4dpY?si=EaUvmkQCJoivIuQ-
REFERENCE
(1) MacPhillamy, I. B. J.; Nunn, M. J.; Barnes, T. S.; Bush, R.; Toribio, J.-A. L. M. L. Striving for Long Term Sustainability — Is It Time We Changed Our Approach to Animal Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries? Acta Trop. 2023, 244, 106946. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106946.
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