Indonesian Twitter users lead backlash against hashtag #BoycottBali

INDONESIANS are lashing out furiously against the online #BoycottBali campaign, telling Australians to “go somewhere else” instead of the holiday island hotspot.

‘If you do not come Bali will be clean’

INDONESIANS are lashing out against the hashtag #BoycottBali, telling Australians who say they will cancel their holidays to Bali to “go somewhere else” instead.

The backlash comes after the social media campaign — which advocates for Australians to show their support for condemned Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, and forgo their holidays to Indonesia — continues to gain traction as Twitter users pledge to cancel holidays to the popular tourism spot.

Waiting ... A social media movement under the hashtag #BoycottBali is being fought by Indonesians, who are questioning why Australians would support drug traffickers such as condemned Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Picture: AFP.

DOOMED: Bali Nine duo to be transferred to death island

MORE: Inside the death island

EXECUTIONS: The confronting truth

TONY ABBOT: ‘I feel sick in the pit of my stomach’

However, some Indonesian nationals have been deeply unimpressed with the campaign, questioning why anyone would “ignore ... this drop-dead gorgeous island ... from your holiday list”.

#boycottbali ? This island is too drop-dead gorgeous to ignore from your holiday list. Where else you… http://t.co/PDKLV758KL

— Pandu Adnyana (@PanduAdnyana) February 17, 2015

Others have taken to calling out Aussie tourists, who are notorious for their wild partying ways when visiting Bali, in addition to shaming Australians for supporting “drug dealers that have been killing so many ... people”.

What the hell with this rubbish hastag #boycottbali haha me as a Balinese doesn't matter, haha,

— Pt Astrid Yolanda S (@yolaayoli) February 17, 2015

Thank you, if you do not come then the island of Bali will be clean #boycottbali

— Mz.Nasrul (@Nasrul_steady) February 17, 2015

Shame on u Oz to #boycottbali just bcs 2 drug dealers that have been killing so many other people. Say bye to this : pic.twitter.com/QV8JP25h9L

— Kartika Funiculine (@funiculine) February 17, 2015

Some Twitter users are confused as to why one would give up a holiday in paradise:

If you're not a #drug dealers, why did you #boycottbali ???

— Dadank Nuri (@dadanknuri) February 17, 2015

Do u want #boycottbali ???really???are u sure??? pic.twitter.com/8DGbQLEste

— missionimpossible (@TarsihI) February 17, 2015

While others have pointed out the hypocrisy of going to China — which is thought to kill thousands annually by firing squad — and the USA, the only western nation that still sanctions judicial killings on a large scale.

A note to anyone intending to #boycottbali #boycottindonesia you may as well add the U.S. and China to boycott as they execute far more ppl

— Adam A Jacoby (@adamajacoby) February 17, 2015

The movement — also a change.org petition — has been encouraged by the Australian Government, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop telling 3AW radio on Friday that: “I think the Australian people will demonstrate their deep disapproval of this action, including by making decisions about where they wish to holiday”.

But former foreign minister Bob Carr warned Australians against boycotting Bali and urged Prime Minister Tony Abbott to think carefully about any retaliatory action against Indonesia.

Mr Carr told ABC’s 7.30 program that any retaliatory action is likely to produce a “nationalistic backlash”, which could have long term consequences.

Instead, he said we needed to “lead Indonesians to the view that capital punishment does not work”.

Indonesian officials have called on Australians to resist the boycott, with Bali’s Governor Made Pastika asking Aussies and the Australian Government to respect Indonesian law.

Mr Pastika, a former police officer and former head of the country’s National Narcotics Agency, reiterated controversial statistics quoted by the Indonesian President as rationale for the stepping up of drug trafficker executions.

“Drugs is very dangerous for us, for the Government. You know in Indonesia there is about 50 person died every day because of drugs, 50 people,” said Mr Pastika.