Before, the top shells (Trochus Niloticus) were harvested for their meat. The shells only became
commercially interesting in the 1960s. With the decline of sasi, the regulated harvest of these
shells was, however, not possible. The village government realizes the potential for top shells
and this is one of the reasons that sasi is being revitalized.
13.4 Institutional and Organizational Arrangements
13.4.1 Loss of sasi
Sasi was established in the early 19th century during the reign of Abraham Tuanakotta (the “Pati
Kotalesia”). Since then, sasi has had alternate periods of decline and revival (Figure 13.3). As far
as people can remember, sasi was abolished during the reign of Frits Matulessy (1969-1971). In
the following eight years, Nelis Noija was the interim village head, and he re-established sasi
but to no avail. During the headship of Nataniel Taihutu (1979-1983), the process of decline
started again, to reach its downfall during that of Maurits Taihutu (1985-1993).
|
Process of decline and revival of sasi | ||||||||
|
I | ||||||||
|
1960 |
1965 |
1970 |
1975 |
1980 |
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
Figure 13.3. Process of decline and revival of sasi.
As had happened before, the decline coincided with problems between the political authorities.
This time, the impetus was the village head who confiscated the fine money meant for the
kewang. The kewang members were discouraged and left the enforcement of sasi regulations to
the village government. The village officials, however, did not establish their own enforcement
and offenders had a free hand. The process of decline reached its lowest point when the
villagers entered the sasi area. Bobby Leisana, a local fisher, remembered that the sasi signs
were put up, but after several months, the villagers ignored them and entered the sea. The
kewang members did not stop them because they had resigned, and the villagers thought: “If
they don’t take sasi seriously, then we don’t take it seriously either.” In 1993, marine sasi
definitely vanished; land sasi was taken over by the church.
13.4.2 Former sasi regulations
The traditional sasi rules were originally written in the secret language bahasa tanah. Unfortunately,
the original set of written rules was lost by the former head of the kewang. The current village
secretary, Nelis Noija, compiled a new set which will be used in the new sasi system.
The sasi operational rules are embedded in a set of general adat rules which define geographical
boundaries, resource use and social behavior. Social behavior is mainly regulated through
operational rules. A collective-choice rule is that resources have protection (lit. “Do not destroy
anything”). This rule is specified through operational rules, which define the products the
rule is applicable to, when, where, and by whom. Marine sasi, for example, principally
166 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia