supported by the wealthy who donate 2% of their income. A total amount of Rp800,000
(USD320, early 1997 exchange rate) is administered by the chairlady, Carolina Kissya, and is
used for the small-scale enterprises of the 20 members. If they succeed in repaying the original
loan, they get an additional Rp2 million loan to start a larger enterprise.
The IDT government program to support the poor, consists of four savings groups of 25 people
each (men and women). The beneficiaries are selected by the village government. Every month,
the profits of the kiosk and credit unit are divided amongst the members. So far, they have
performed well. There is good financial management and more groups will be established later.
Learisa Kayeli is a local organization that is occupied with environmental issues (nature
conservation) and the implementation of adat. Up until 1998, the organization was led by
Bertie Ririmasse and collaborated closely with the kewang. Haruku is the only case study
village that has an environmental organization.
11.2.3 Role of women
Since the late 1980s, and especially after the drop of the clove price in 1991, marine resources
have become increasingly important. Many women are directly dependent on the sea as a
source for food and income. The lompa fish that the women catch are dried and so provide
food for several months. Naturally, sasi is very significant to the women in Haruku. “Sasi
covers everything”, they say. However, the women regret there is no sasi on young fruits in
the home gardens because theft is prevalent. The women know the sasi rules and live in
accordance with them, but have no mandate to change or adapt them.
Historically, women played an important role in the village. There are stories of female village
leaders and kewang members, but over the years, this has changed and now men occupy all
the important political positions. The concept of “women being less capable than men” limits
women’s role in decision-making and reduces their activities to those related to their role as
household manager, e.g., income-generating activities, treasurer in village organizations, or
as food provider at festivities.
Women are informed of new laws or government decisions through the church or PKK. Women
are not allowed to speak at formal meetings, and if they have any suggestions, they would
have to submit them informally through a kewang or LMD member, the church minister or the
village head. As a consequence, the women’s self confidence in the political sphere is low.
Although in our interviews, they came up with some relevant ideas, they do not see how they
could contribute to the village because they feel “they are only small fishes”. Our respondents,
of whom a third considered women to be completely outside of decision-making processes,
confirmed this idea.
Interesting is the fact that the village head suggested, as part of the re-organization of the
village government, that women (as well as commoners) should be able to take a seat in the
newly to be installed LMD.
11.2.4 Fisher profile
The average age of the respondents was 50 years, and 37% of them were under 45. Only one
woman was interviewed. Relatively few of the fishers (67%) were actually born in Haruku;
most originated from the other islands. A large majority (80%) have only elementary education.
126 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia