An institutional analysis of sasi laut in Maluku, Indonesia

Appendix 6C: Ihamahu Village Sasi Rules

Ihamahu’s Kewang Board

The board also contains the following divisions:

Ihamahu’s Kewang Regulations

Ever since the Ihamahu Kewang Corps (Korp Kewang Ihamahu) made their comeback and started functioning
again, the previous regulations are re-established along with other, new regulations which are considered
necessary, such as regulations related to the Environmental Concept of the National Development. All the
regulations are still maintained and upheld. The community also lives by and acknowledges them.

Those regulations are as follows:

1. Before cutting down a sago tree, one must climb the tree and cut down the branches first.

2. The cutting down of a sago tree should not bring about destruction to other sago trees.

3. When squeezing the sago debris (ela) to get the extract, the waste water (air goti) should not flow into
the river.

4. The stem and mid-rib (sahani) used for getting the extract (goti), should be taken from the sago tree to
be cut down, and not from other sago trees.

5. When cutting sago leaves for the purpose of making a roof, at least five whole branches should be
left on each tree and should not be cut off.

6. Women are prohibited to do the washing at the upper course of the river when someone is extracting
sago at the lower course.

7. When cutting down the tree to get wood for household purposes, the branches should be cut down
first before the tree itself. This intention should be reported to the Kewang Chief (Kepala Kewang) or
the Vice Chief two days before the activity takes place.

8. Other villagers from outside Ihamahu who wish to enter the sago woods to work on getting sago
extract or getting wood for household purposes, must report to the Kewang Chief and must possess a
Work Permit as well as receive guidance and pay a certain amount of fee to the Village Treasury or
Kewang before they are allowed to enter the woods.

9. Those who enter the woods at the time when the trees are budding and blooming should not make
any noise.

10. Walking in the woods with an open umbrella is prohibited.

11. Throwing at the durian tree bearing fruits is prohibited.

12. Climbing a durian tree when the fruits are still unripe is prohibited.

13. Taking the mangrove’s bark for reinforcement of fishing nets is prohibited, unless permitted by the
Kewang.

14. Taking the young mangroves for any ceremonial purposes at all is prohibited unless permitted by
the Kewang.

15. Picking unripe fruits from the trees is prohibited.

16. Using explosives for fishing is prohibited.

17. Destruction or harvest of coral reefs, sea cucumbers, trochus, tridacna for certain purposes or export
out of the village is prohibited.

312 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia

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