Boa Beach in Rote is a pristine, breathtaking coastline—home to a perfect Indonesian right-hander, rich marine life, and an essential ecosystem that supports local seaweed farmers. It is not just a world-class wave; it is a place of livelihood, culture, and shared natural beauty. It is also 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 reportedly 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.

There are also serious concerns about the future: current access is said to be guaranteed for only 15 years. That is not true public access—it is temporary permission.

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?

We support tourism and surf lodges—but not at the cost of equal access or environmental integrity. The ocean is not for sale.

We call for:

• Full, direct, and permanent public access to Boa Beach
• Preservation of mangrove ecosystems and responsible environmental stewardship
• Protection of local livelihoods, including seaweed farmers
• Dropping of all charges against Erasmus Frans

Boa must remain open to all.

Sign the petition. Stand for public beaches—for this generation and the next.