A pristine coastline — home to a perfect Indonesian right-hander, rich marine life, and an essential ecosystem that supports local seaweed farmers. On Rote Island, people there say public access is being restricted, and that this beach must remain open to everyone, not a chosen few.
Boa Beach is not just a world-class wave — it is a place of livelihood, culture, and shared natural beauty. It is one of the last truly untouched and undeveloped coastal areas of its kind. And it should remain open to everyone.
Today, access is reportedly being restricted. Locals and visitors are required to take indirect routes around a private resort to reach the beach — disrupting daily life and threatening those who depend on direct ocean access. Despite claims that the beach is not being privatized, months of protests tell a different story.
There are growing environmental concerns. Reports of mangrove loss — critical ecosystems that protect coastlines and support marine biodiversity — along with concerns around water use and wastewater management, highlight the need for transparency and careful stewardship of this fragile environment.
This has escalated to the point where local leader and one of Rote's original surfers, Erasmus Frans, now faces criminal charges after speaking out on Facebook in defense of public access — an alarming response to peaceful expression online.
We support tourism and surf lodges — but not at the cost of equal access or environmental integrity. This issue is bigger than Boa. It raises a global question: should private interests be allowed to control access to beaches that belong to everyone?
Full, direct, and permanent public access to Boa Beach — not indirect detours around private property, and not temporary 15-year permissions.
Preservation of mangrove ecosystems and responsible environmental stewardship. These critical habitats protect coastlines and support marine biodiversity.
Protection of local livelihoods, including seaweed farmers whose work depends on direct, consistent access to the coastline they've relied on for generations.
Dropping of all charges against Erasmus Frans — a local leader and one of Rote's original surfers — who faces prosecution simply for speaking out in defense of public access.
Reporting on access, development, and what is at stake on Rote.
Sign the petition. Stand for public beaches — for this generation and the next.
The ocean is not for sale. Every signature sends a message that beaches belong to everyone — not only those who can afford access, but those whose lives are rooted there.
