An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia

(Thryssa baelama) ⁴ and the rituals of opening and closing the area were comparable to the
current lompa fishery ceremonies in Haruku. Additionally, the spawning grounds of the fish
were protected in the sasi area. Later, other sea products under sasi were sea cucumbers and
top shells (Trochus niloticus). Until they finally disappeared in the 1980s, the regulations
basically did not change. The regulations were never written down.

The exact year in which sasi was abolished is not clear. According to the current village head,
Tanalepy, adat was abolished in 1958 and sasi was subsequently lost. Max Aipassa, the tuan
negeri at that time, stated that he performed sasi rituals in 1963, 1969, and 1983. From this
information, it can be concluded that the process of the decline of sasi, on the constitutional
level, has had a different pattern of loss than the practical (operational) aspects of sasi. The
process of decline has also been irregular.

Aipassa’s explanation of the loss of sasi was also not attributed to the loss of adat, but to
political problems in the village during the reign of the former village head. He explained
that in the 1960s, conflicts arose between the people and the village headman at the time,
Sahusilawani. In the process, the village became divided into two parties that were extremely
hostile towards each other. One group was in favor of the village head and the other group
opposed him. At the height of the turmoil in 1969, the house of Max Aipassa, who was mistaken
for that of a member of the opposition party, was attacked. He immediately resigned his post
(tuan negeri) and no longer performed the sasi rituals.

In order to restore the peace in the village, the village leader convinced Aipassa to resume his
post again and to continue sasi, which Aipassa did. Between 1969 and 1983, sasi is said to
have been active, but with ups and downs. Apparently, the villagers were not particularly
interested in sasi. In 1983, new conflicts arose in the village. Again, the village became divided
into pro and contra groups with respect to the village head, and again there was political
turmoil. Apart from this, the members of the saniri negeri (traditional village council) were
involved in a land dispute. As a result of these political conflicts, the kewang withdrew and
the tuan negeri resigned for a second time. According to his information, the last sasi sign was
put up in 1984 and since then, sasi can be considered dormant.

Table 12.2. Timeline of events in Tuhaha

⁴ Nowadays, the lompa fish are caught throughout the year. Lompa fish are mainly caught when the weather
prevents the fishers from going out to sea.

148 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia

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