An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia

among young children. Through their involvement in environmental activities, the mini-kewang
members become more aware of the need for nature conservation. Besides, since the children
are from different families, the mini-kewang serves as a bridge between the pro and contra
groups in the village.

Figure 11.3. Children, of whom some are mini-kewang members,
in Haruku

11.4.3 History of the kewang

Haruku and Sameth share the kewang for the sea because both villages have access rights to
the same area. For land resources, each village has its own kewang. Eli Ririmasse, the head of
the kewang for the sea, narrated: “A long time ago the ancestors lived in the mountains. The
grandmother of the Ririmasse clan was the leader. Later she met the grandmother of the
Kissya clan who arrived from Ambon and joined the people living in the mountains. When
Haruku moved down from the mountains to the coast, the two women led the ceremony.
They played a very important role in the village beside the raja because they could use black
magic. The women and the raja established the adat institution and developed sasi. They chose
a kewang from each clan and that is why there are two kewangs.”

Throughout history, clashes between the kewang and village leader were prevalent. In 1962 under
village head Johannes Ferdinandus, the head of the kewang resigned and until 1979, the village
had no kewang at all. In 1967, a new kewang head had taken position, but very briefly. He was
not from the original kewang line and when he fell ill, he feared it was caused by the divine
wrath of the ancestors and he quit. At the time, sasi lompa was still performed by the village
officials, and despite the weak enforcement and lack of rituals, people respected the rules.

In the meantime, Eliza Kissya, a descendant from the original kewang clan, learned about the
kewang practices from his uncle. In 1979, he was ready and re-established the kewang. Ely
Kissya became the head of the kewang for the land. The current head of the kewang for the sea
is Eli Ririmasse who was appointed in 1994. He functions under the authority of Kissya who
is the tuan tanah (oldest clan). Since then, the kewang has become a strong institution in the
village when it comes to sasi and natural resource management. Its position was strengthened
after it won a national environmental award in 1982.

Desa Haruku and Sameth, Haruku Island 131

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