Southeast Maluku riots

Southeast Maluku riots Kerusuhan Maluku Tenggara (Indonesian)
Date	6 October and 12 November 2022
Location	Kai Besar, Southeast Maluku Regency 5°38′00″S133°00′32″E / 5.633352°S 133.008922°E / -5.633352; 133.008922
Caused by	customary land disputes on village borders, as well as alleged ethnic and religious sentiments [1]
Goals	Destruction of enemy villages and forced evictions
Methods	Arson and assault
Status	Peace treaty
Parties
Elat villagers Bombai villagers Ngurdu villagers
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown

2022 Southeast Maluku riots (Indonesian : Kerusuhan Maluku Tenggara 2022) was a series of riots that occurred on 6 October and 12 November 2022 in Southeast Maluku Regency, Maluku. The riots involved three villages (Kei: ohoi ^[2] ) in Kai Besar District, namely the villages of Bombai and Ngurdu with the Elat village.

Background

The riots between residents from both sides was allegedly triggered by traditional activities carried out by Bombai villagers, namely in the form of installing customary prohibitions or sasi adat on the border of the two villages. This is thought to have triggered anger among the Elat villagers, resulting in acts of mutual attack. ^[3]

Elat Village itself is one of two villages inhabited by Banda Muslims, besides the Eli village. ^[4] The Bandanese migrated to the Kei Islands from the Banda Islands due to the Banda massacre in 1609–1621 carried out by the VOC. ^[5] Meanwhile, the Bombai and Ngurdu villages are inhabited by Kei Catholics who are the indigenous people of the Kei Islands. ^{[6] [7]}

Apart from the problems on the border between the Elat and Bombai villages, the dispute between the two parties is also thought to be due to ethnic and religious sentiments between the three villages, but the Regent of Southeast Maluku, M. Thaher Hanubun denied it and stated that the riots that occurred were not a religious conflict. ^[1] In fact, this riots incident has often occurred before. Even the riot that occurred on 12 November 2022 was the impact of the previous incident. On Sunday, 6 October 2022, there was also a riot between the two villagers. However, the police immediately took security measures. ^[8]

The news that the riots between Bombai and Elat residents was caused by a land boundary dispute was denied by the figure of the Wandan Youth and Student Association Central Board of Directors Yunus Rahawarin, According to him, the trigger for the clash was a fight between students at Elat State High School on 6 October 2022. He said, the land boundary issue has been resolved long ago and there is no problem regarding the land that will be installed sasi adat. Even according to Yunus, the only ones who have the right to speak regarding the land in Elat are him and his family. Because, the land was a gift from King of Yamtel, the head of Mel Rahawarin. ^[9]

Chronologies

The riot started with a clash between three villagers that had been going on since Saturday morning, 12 November 2022, at UTC+8 08.00. The riots began when Bombai and Ngurdu villagers insisted on installing a sasi adat or customary prohibition on the border of Elat village. Residents of the three villages claim the land on the border as their land. The Elat villagers who did not accept the installation of the sasi adat then put up resistance until finally a clash occurred. ^[10] The weapons used in these clashes were machetes, arrows, bamboo, and firearms. ^[11]

Results

As a result of this riot, two civilians died due to the riot and two Members of the Indonesian National Police consisting of members of Mobile Brigade Corps and Tual Police Station were injured because they were stabbed with arrows. ^[12] In addition to injuring two police officers, 42 civilians and police were also injured due to the riots that occurred. 26 houses and two school buildings were also burned down as a result of the riots. ^{[13] [14]}

See also

• Maluku sectarian conflict

References

1. Ratna Puspita. "Bupati: Bentrok Maluku Tenggara Bukan Konflik Antaragama". www.republika.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
2. Hasanudin. "Larwul Ngabal (Hukum Adat di Kepulauan Kei)". pn-tilamuta.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 November 2022.
3. Dheddy Rumangun. "Mencekam! Warga 2 Desa di Maluku Tenggara Bentrok, Rumah dan Sekolah Dibakar". daerah.sindonews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
4. TvOne, Tim. "Sambil Bawa Senjata Laras Panjang, Brimob Usir Warga di Maluku yang Terlibat Bentrok: Kalian Mundur!". www.tvonenews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
5. Mezakwakim. "Onotan Sarawandan; Tradisi Lisan Masyarakat Banda Eli dan Banda Elat". kebudayaan.kemdikbud.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
6. Ferdian Ananda. "Asal Suku Kei dari Bali Ditelusuri". m.mediaindonesia.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
7. Jayapura, Jubi. "Dari Kei, Katolik Masuk Tanah Papua". jubi.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
8. Muhammad Irfan. "Sasi Adat Picu Kerusuhan di Maluku Tenggara". www.gemasulawesi.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
9. Maluku, Rakyat. "Rahawarin: Konflik Itu Bukan Soal Tanah". rakyatmaluku.fajar.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 14 November 2022.
10. Rahmat Rahman Patty; Dheri Agriesta. "Bentrok Warga di Maluku Tenggara, 2 Sekolah dan Sejumlah Rumah Dibakar Massa". regional.kompas.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
11. Rizky L. Pratama; Gading Persada. "Bentrok Antar Dua Desa di Maluku Tenggara, Sejumlah Orang Terluka Akibat Panah dan Sabetan Parang". www.kompas.tv (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
12. "Konflik Dua Desa di Malra, Dua Meninggal dan Puluhan Luka-luka". www.tualnews.com (in Indonesian). Tual News. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
13. Ikbal Muqorobin. "Kerusuhan Maluku, Polisi: Tahan Diri, Jangan Terprovokasi". ww.harianterbit.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
14. Hermawan Mappiwali. "Bentrokan Warga di Maluku Tenggara: 42 Orang Terluka-26 Rumah Dibakar". www.detik.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 13 November 2022.