Coalition Calls for Postponement of World Superbike in Lombok Mandalika Circuit

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coalition of Indonesian Infrastructure Development Monitoring (KPPII) called for the World Superbike (WBSK) at the Mandalika Circuit, Lombok, Central Nusa Tenggara, to be postponed. The coalition also asked SBK Executive Director Gregorio Lavilla not to hold the event.

KPPII coordinator Muhammad Al Amin said the request was made as many local and traditional Sasak communities being evicted from the circuit site have not received compensation from the Indonesian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).

In addition, dozens of families are still isolated at the circuit location. They cannot manage the land, raise livestock, and look for shellfish as their sources of livelihood since ITDC still prohibits residents from carrying out activities around the circuit areas given that ITDC has not yet decided whether or not to buy the community lands.

“With these conditions, it is very unethical for the World Superbike to be held amidst the suffering of hundreds of citizens and women due to the eviction of ITDC. I hope the Executive Director of WSBK postpones World Superbike due to the consideration of land and social conflicts around the circuit,” Amin told Tempo on Monday, November 15.

“We also hope that the WSBK Executive Director will help the community to obtain their basic rights as human beings,” Amin underlined.

The World Superbike is scheduled to be held at the Mandalika Circuit on November 19-20, 2021. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had inaugurated the international circuit.

Read: Mandalika Asia Talent Cup Postponed over Lack of Track Marshals

IRSYAN HASYIM