A Personal Plea for Justice: Why I Was Forced to Leave the Dogs I Love By Björn Medernach, Founder of Bali Dog Association Currently in Thailand, Awaiting Justice

Björn Medernach CEO
Jul 25
3 min read

For the past seven years, I’ve devoted my life, my heart, and my entire savings to the street dogs of Bali.

Together with a local family in Aseman, I built a sanctuary from the ground up. I personally invested more than $240,000 USD to create a safe haven for Bali’s most vulnerable animals — those suffering from abuse, starvation, disease, and abandonment.

Proof can be seen all in previous post:

https://www.balidogassociation.com/post/urgent-we-have-nothing-left-at-all

We called it the Bali Dog Association — a Swiss-registered nonprofit born from compassion, not profit. Over time, our shelter became a symbol of hope. Hundreds of dogs found safety, medical care, food, and love. And our community grew into something powerful — a voice for the voiceless.

But earlier this year, everything changed.

Betrayed and Blacklisted

In early 2025, I was the target of a devastating betrayal. A group of individuals I once trusted — including members of the host family and local collaborators — made false allegations against me to Indonesian immigration authorities.

The result?

I was detained without warning, placed in a crowded immigration facility, and held for four days under inhumane conditions.

I was:

Forced to sleep on concrete floors with no bedding
Denied access to a lawyer or medical care, despite having a panic disorder
Physically assaulted by fellow detainees
Pressured to sign legal documents I couldn’t read
Refused contact with the outside world

These experiences violated multiple international human rights laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture.

They Took Everything — Even My Voice

While I was detained and suffering a minor stroke (TIA) from stress, those same individuals seized control of our Instagram account and other digital platforms — the very tools I used to communicate with our supporters around the world.

They didn’t just take over the platforms — they silenced me and cut me off from the very dogs I’ve dedicated my life to saving.

Now, I’m in Exile

Since my release, I have been blacklisted from Indonesia — a country I have served with deep respect and love.

I am currently in Thailand, completely displaced, emotionally devastated, and without any financial resources.

Despite my lifelong contributions, I’ve been left with nothing.

No income. No home. No access to my own sanctuary.

I have reached out to the Swiss Embassy requesting emergency financial support to survive in Thailand until Indonesia lifts the blacklist and allows me to return.

Why I’m Speaking Out

This isn’t just about me. What happened during those four days in detention — and what has continued to happen since — is a human rights violation that should never happen to anyone, ever again.

I am now publicly sharing my story with international human rights organizations, the media, and the animal welfare community. I’m asking for:

A full investigation into immigration detention conditions in Indonesia
Protection for detainees and access to legal rights
Independent monitoring of detention centers
The lifting of my blacklist, so I can return to continue my humanitarian mission in Bali