Pulihkan Bali Citizen Lawsuit Enters Mediation as DPRD Cites No Notice

Denpasar — A citizen lawsuit brought by the Pulihkan Bali coalition over flood disaster management and environmental governance has moved into court-ordered mediation at the Denpasar District Court, with the Bali Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD Bali) still absent from the proceedings, according to local media reports on 7 September 2026.

The lawsuit targets alleged state failures in preventing and managing severe floods in Bali, and seeks structural changes in environmental and disaster governance rather than financial compensation. The coalition argues that gaps in regulation, conflicts between existing laws and weak implementation have left Bali vulnerable to climate‑related disasters.

The case was registered at the Denpasar District Court under number 1024/Pdt.G/2026/PN Dps and was lodged via e‑court on 2 July 2026. Ten Bali residents, assisted by the Pulihkan Bali advocacy team, filed the action using the citizen lawsuit mechanism, which allows claims in the public interest without the need to prove individual loss.

Fourteen institutions named as defendants

The coalition’s claim names 14 public institutions as defendants: eight national‑level bodies and six regional governments in Bali. The national defendants are the President of Indonesia and the Ministers of Finance; Energy and Mineral Resources; Investment/Head of BKPM; Environment; Forestry; Public Works and Public Housing; and Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency.

Regional defendants are the Governor of Bali, DPRD Bali, the Mayor of Denpasar, and the Regents of Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan. These areas were among those hit by major floods in September 2025 that caused ecological, social and economic losses and claimed lives, according to the coalition’s earlier statements.

DPRD Bali cites lack of formal notification

From the first hearing through the closed mediation session on 3 September 2026, DPRD Bali has not appeared before the court, making it the only Bali regional institution named in the lawsuit that has yet to be represented.

Asked about the absence, DPRD Bali Chair Dewa Made Mahayadnya said he had not received official notification of the citizen lawsuit. He told IDN Times that no formal notice had reached his desk and that he therefore could not comment in detail on the case. Mahayadnya said the matter required further consideration and indicated he would seek input from the council’s experts.

Ignatius Rhadite, a lawyer for the Pulihkan Bali coalition, disputed the claim of non‑notification. He said the coalition sent a formal warning, or somasi, to the defendants on 12 November 2025, and that they retained proof of receipt. The somasi warned national and regional authorities over alleged failures in handling the September 2025 floods and gave them 60 days to respond and take concrete steps.

Court hearings, mediation and representation

The first court hearing in the citizen lawsuit took place on 27 July 2026 at the Denpasar District Court. Local reports say several regional governments in Bali — including the provincial government and the municipalities of Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan — have participated in the proceedings through appointed legal counsel.

The court scheduled mediation between the plaintiffs and all defendants for 3 September 2026, in line with civil procedure rules that require judges to attempt settlement before proceeding to full trial. According to IDN Times, the mediation session on 3 September was held behind closed doors. Separate coverage from Bali‑based outlets indicates that mediation was underway by mid‑September, with the defendants reportedly opening the door to a settlement if the plaintiffs’ demands could be accommodated.

For the regional defendants who appeared, the court set a deadline of 10 September 2026 to submit written summaries of their responses to the claim. As of the 7 September report, it was not yet clear whether all defendants would meet that deadline or whether mediation would yield an agreement.

What the coalition is asking for

The Pulihkan Bali coalition has outlined a series of non‑monetary remedies aimed at reshaping flood and climate governance in Bali. Among their demands are a moratorium on new business permits and development projects that could harm the environment and public safety in the province; the preparation of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (Kajian Lingkungan Hidup Strategis) for the Sarbagita urban area; and the adoption of a regional regulation on climate justice covering mitigation, adaptation and compensation for loss and damage.

The plaintiffs also seek court orders requiring national and regional authorities, including the Governor and DPRD Bali, to implement existing legal obligations on disaster risk reduction and climate policy that they say have been neglected. The coalition describes the lawsuit as an effort to secure institutional reforms and better protection for Bali residents facing increasing environmental risks.

Sources

• IDN Times Bali – Alasan DPRD Bali Absen di Mediasi Citizen Lawsuit Lingkungan
• Bali Post – Terkait Bencana Banjir, Koalisi Pulihkan Bali Somasi ...
• Detik Bali – Banjir Bali Berujung Gugatan Warga Negara, 14 Pejabat dan Lembaga Digugat
• Ekuatorial – Dari Banjir ke Meja Hijau, Ketika Warga Bali Menggugat Negara atas Krisis Ekologis
• BaleBengong – Gugatan Warga Bali Menuntut Perbaikan Tata Kelola
• 350.org / Stop Banjir Bali Petition
• LiCAS.news – Bali flood survivors sue Indonesian government, seek court-ordered freeze on new fossil fuel projects