Moluccas International Campaign for Human Rights
  • THESE ARE THE MOLUCCAN ISLANDS: FACTS & OPINIONS
  • MELANESIA VERSUS INDONESIA
  • ABOUT MOLUCCAS INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
  • REPRESSION OF A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT IN MALUKU: FREEDOM OF POLITICAL EXPRESSION
  • TOP STORIES
  • SOUTH MOLUCCAS ISLANDS’ ILLEGAL OCCUPATION BY JAKARTA
  • MOLUCCAS SOVEREIGNTY FRONT - FRONT KEDAULATAN MALUKU (FKM)
  • LETTERS DR. ALEXANDER H. MANUPUTTY TO THE UN & HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
  • PESTA DEMOKRASI: FRONT KEDAULATAN MALUKU MENUNTUT PENGEMBALIAN KEDAULATAN RMS 25 APRIL 1950 – 25 APRIL 2014
  • PHOTOS FKM-RMS DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA ON OCTOBER 26, 2010 & SEPTEMBER 7, 2010
  • PROKLAMASI NEGARA REPUBLIK MALUKU SELATAN (RMS)
  • MAFIA HUKUM INDONESIA - JUDICIAL MAFIA
  • INDONESIAN PRESIDENT JOKO “JOKOWI” WIDODO SURROUNDED BY KILLERS & RENT-SEEKERS
  • GOLPUT & KORUPSI POLITIK di INDONESIA dan PEMILIHAN 2014 - NON VOTERS / THE WHITE GROUP & POLITICAL CORRUPTION in INDONESIA and the 2014 ELECTIONS
  • INDONESIA = REPUBLIK MALING & KEBOHONGAN REZIM SBY
  • CORRUPTION - POVERTY & UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN THE MOLUCCAS – KORUPSI - KEMISKINAN DAN KETERBELAKANGAN DI MALUKU
  • PALM OIL PLANTATION CRIME IN INDONESIA AND ITS CORRUPT POLITICAL MACHINE
  • MASELA - OIL AND GAS BLOCKS CAN LIBERATE MALUKU FROM POVERTY
  • ILLEGAL GOLD RUSH ON BURU ISLAND IN THE MOLUCCAS
  • SAVE ARU ISLANDS
  • SAVE ROMANG
  • SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO AND HIS GENERALS
  • INDONESIAN MILITARY INVOLVEMENT WITH AGGRESSIVE MINING, ILLEGAL LOGGING AND ILLEGAL FISHING IN THE MOLUCCAS
  • LASKAR JIHAD - SUHARTO COMPANIONS AND THE MOLUCCAN CIVIL WAR - JUSTICE DEMAND
  • MOLUCCAS: GENOCIDE ON THE SLY - INDONESIA’S TRANSMIGRATION PROGRAM
  • OUR CAMPAIGN & CONTACT MICHR
  • ECOLOGY & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MOLUCCAS
  • DISPLACED PEOPLE IN THE MOLUCCAS - PENGUNGSI DI MALUKU
  • INSIDE INDONESIA’S WAR ON TERROR
  • TNI, BRIMOB AND STATE TERROR IN THE MOLUCCAS
  • IMPUNITY AND THE INDONESIAN MASTERS OF TERROR
  • STOP KILLING - ASSAULTING and KIDNAPPING JOURNALISTS IN INDONESIA
  • 8 March - International Women's Day
  • 26-june---un-international-day-in-support-of-victims-of-torture
  • 9 August - UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
  • RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES - HAK ASASI MASYARAKAT ADAT
  • THE DUTCH - INDONESIA CORPORATE CONNECTION
  • LIBERATING OUR COLONIAL MINDSET
  • UNPO: IN PURSUIT OF THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
  • NKRI DIDIRIKAN DI ATAS KONSEP YANG SALAH
  • GAJAH DENGAN GAJAH BERLAGA, ORANG MALUKU MATI DI TENGAH - TENGAH
  • THE PLAYERS BEHIND THE MALUKU MADNESS
  • INDONESIAN STATE SPONSORED UNBRIDLED NICKEL EXPLOITATION IN NORTH MOLUCCAS: SERVING THE ECONOMIC INTEREST OF INDONESIAN OLIGARCHS AND CHINA
continuation of
Eliza Kissya: Preserving the 'sasi' tradition against the odds


"Today, people talk about sustainable development. But hundreds of years ago, our ancestors created and enforced sasi, laws which are still adhered to in our community," Eliza told The Jakarta Post.

One local sasi which has attracted some international attention is the lompa sasi (lompa is a fish).

In Haruku, seawater lompa are bred in rivers. The customary law on the island requires the villagers to protect the fish from the time their eggs are released into the rivers until the adult spawn are collected.

Eliza said the sasi tradition was economically advantageous to the public because it ensured an abundant harvest. Villagers could accumulate more-than-enough to eat and had savings for hard times in the future.

The tradition also has a special arrangement for widows and orphans in communities, who generally get a bigger share of the natural resources collected when a particular sasi is lifted.

For his consistent efforts to preserve the sasi tradition, Eliza was awarded the Kalpataru environmental award in 1985. In 1999, he received the Satyalencana medal of merit.

He has also received several citations at the international level for his dedication to environmental conservation and is frequently invited to speak at forums involving traditional communities from a variety of countries.

It has not been easy, however, for Eliza to ensure the sasi ancestral tradition is well-heeded. He has had to take those fishing with explosives to court singlehanded and attend trial sessions, going from Haruku to Ambon island without legal assistance and paying for his own travel.

Still, the father of six and the husband of Elizabeth has never stopped fighting for the rights of his village, especially if its the natural environment is under threat. Unpaid as a kewang, he feeds his family by growing plants and raising cattle.

To earn some money for the institution, in 1980 he wrote a book -- Sasi Aman Harukui (The Sasi of Haruku) -- in which he describes the sasi traditions and the kewang role to the public.

The book has sold well among students, environmentalists, researchers, anthropologists and non-governmental organization activists. OXFAM has asked that when reprinted, the book be translated into English.

The first village of Haruku was razed to the ground during the religious rioting that broke out in the region in 2000. The villagers later abandoned the place, rebuilding elsewhere.

Eliza is now cautious about applying sanctions on fishermen using explosives because most come from a neighboring village that was involved in a bloody conflict with his own.

While before he tried to put the fishermen behind bars, he now prefers to settle problems with them more amicably.

Eliza had to work even harder when PT Aneka Tambang, a state gold mining company, planned to carry out prospecting activities in his village during the early 1990s.

He believed the exploration work would be a threat to the environment and a health hazard for his fellow villagers.

Staunchly against the mining, he did not budge from his position when dealing with the enterprise and the regional administration.

The head of a family that usually prays together when any of their members is facing a problem, Eliza remembers he was moved to tears when his youngest daughter, Halida Kissya, prayed so solemnly that she cried when he was in conflict with PT Aneka Tambang.

Assisted by non-government organizations, environmentalists and the media, he fought hard against the company and eventually won, when it abandoned its plan.

"I feel happy if I am successful in my struggle, particularly if I can preserve the legacy of my ancestors," Eliza said.

"My family understands that I face a lot of challenges in my position. They understand that I fulfill my responsibilities without hope of reward.

"I receive no salary and suffer great pressure in this job."
HIRA I NI ENTUB FO I NI, IT DID ENTUB FO IT DID. – A PERSON’S PROPERTY SHALL REMAIN THAT PERSON’S PROPERTY, OUR PROPERTY REMAINS OUR OWN.