We the Latupati [four
raja
, traditional leaders and village leaders] of South Buru, in a working meeting with leaders of village governments throughout South Buru held at Leksula from 25 to 27 March 1969, settled on the following decision regarding marriage.HEAR:
A
high level of frustration and strong objections were expressed amongst the opinions of the members of the village leadership in their capacity as the Heads ofAdat
for South Buru at the meeting in Leksula from 25 to 27 March 1969 at which the heads of thekecamatan
of South Buru, the head of police for the Leksula region, and the head of security and other government officials were also in attendance, because marriageadat
needs to be reviewed and to be organized.CONSIDER:
1. That Buru
adat
law regarding marriage is a law which is not written and therefore needs to be written and fixed so that it will preserve the originaladat
as well as prohibit additionaladat
from being made in various ways regarding marriage.2. At the present time traditional
adat
is carried out as well as otheradat
being added, so that the total bridewealth and marriage payment [money] is becoming greater and greater. This is seen as selling and buying w omen which is in opposition to the norms of Religion and Propriety as well as opposing basic human rights in our Nation, the independent and sovereign Republic of Indonesia.Appendix Page 132
3. This matter has made marriage between a man and woman very difficult, resulting in many undesirable things and litigations which constantly occur and which continually preoccupy those representing both sets of parents and us, the village leaders in our capacity as heads of
adat.
4. That this matter inhibits the progress of the people, who are up to this point still in a state of weak economy.
IT IS
T HUSDECIDED:
Desiring to fix arrangements for marriage in South Buru, the following points have been decided:I. Regarding marriage for the Christian population of South Buru:
A. Bridewealth, if the girl is requested [literally, given betelnut] with honor:
1. E'lefut (carrying cloth) One bolt [stick] of white cloth.
2. Okofnoit (bathing shell) One basin.
3. Kasihagit (a machete for prying candlenut) one machete.
4. Pirin taglasit One dozen bowls.
5. Fafu esnillalet (heart buying pig) One pig.
6. Marriage-gold -(Money) - Rp.2.500. (Rp.2.000 for the mother and father and Rp.500 for the village leaders). Because of the change in the value of currency, this is now to be Rp.25.000 (Rp.20.000 for the mother and father and Rp.5.000 for the village leaders).
7. Wedding celebrations can be decided upon by the two sets of parents.
Appendix Page 133
B. Bridewealth, if the woman is "run off with" [elopement]
1. Bridewealth is the same as in Point A. above, except that the following fines are required in addition:
a. one roll of white cloth
b. one bottle of gin
c. a letter of elopement with money of Rp.1.000 placed inside. (Because of the change in the value of currency, this is now replaced with a fine of Rp.10.000 (ten thousand rupiah)).
C. Other matters relating to marriage:
1. Food and drink prepared by the bride's parents for the groom's parents during the marriage negotiations or at the time the bride leaves, are to be paid for according to an agreement made between the two sets of parents, with proper reckoning of the price.
2. It is forbidden to pay in advance for a [young] girl.
3. It is forbidden to exchange women.
4. Forced marriages are forbidden.
5. Boys and girls who are not yet adults are forbidden to marry.
6. Marriage in which the groom enters (is adopted into) the bride's family is forbidden.
7. Marriage must be based on love between the man and woman, not the desire of their parents. What is required is the agreement of both sets of parents.
Appendix Page 134
8. A man and women who have relations which result in the woman giving birth to a child or becoming pregnant, are to be forced to marry each other, except for close relatives who are to be heavily fined or given corporal punishment.
9. When a widow marries, the bridewealth is counted as half the above.
10. All declarations and additional
adat
which is not specified here in this Letter of Decision, are prohibited because they are not based on legaladat.
In addition to not being based on legal traditional Buruadat,
numerous of these additionally requested items are no longer able to be purchased in stores, so that it causes difficulty for the People and prevents and inhibits our development and progress as a race or tribe.11. If in a marriage there is a child who is born before the
adat
bridewealth is given, then the child belongs to the parents of the woman who gave birth to it, unless there are other arrangements made between the two sets of parents and the woman who gave birth to the child.12. Hal futan (fines for adultery), are not to be paid by the family, but must be paid by the individual involved and if it is seen as necessary, can be replaced by corporal punishment. If the two agree to do it, then both must be fined but the woman is fined half of what the man is fined. If it appears that the woman was forced to do it, then it is only the man who is fined.
13. It is forbidden to elope with someone's wife.
D. The Hindu population of Buru should be taught and given explanation of the above so that they will follow and obey all the decisions
Appendix Page 135
above, allowing these arrangements to be followed uniformly throughout South Buru.
II. Regarding Marriage by the Population of South Buru who are of the Islam Religion:
A. Bridewealth, if the woman is asked for respectfully
1. Money, the total of which is up to the arrangements made by the woman to the man at the time of the marriage. The highest amount is to be Rp.400 (four hundred rupiah) and the lowest amount is to be Rp.40. Because of the change in the value of currency, this is changed to be: Rp.10.000 and Rp.4.000.
2. Money of Rp.14.000 (fourteen thousand rupiah) is for the officials of Religion and Government, the division of which should follow the instructions of the Office of Religion.
3. A carrying cloth - one bolt of white cloth.
4. Marriage arrangements need to be made between the two sets of parents.
5. Elopement, is subject to the regulations of the religion. The only additional requirements for
adat
are: there must be a letter informing [the girl's parent's] of the elopement and it must contain money totaling Rp.1.000.- Because of the difference in the value of currency, this is changed to be Rp.10.000. (ten thousand rupiah).6. Party festivities and other arrangements depend on agreements made between the two sets of parents.
Appendix Page 136
B. Other matters concerning marriage: Look at the regulations set forth in section I part C numbers 1 through 13 for the Christian parties. These are also in effect for the Islam parties, except number 9 which must be ammended to fit with the requirements of Islam.
May these D e c i s i o n s be o b s e r v e d and o b e y e d by the p eople of S o u t h B u r u .
Leksula, 27 M a r c h 1969.
Witnessed by:
Head of the Kecamatan of South Buru as leader of the meeting
Buru.
(signed) (M.SAIMIMA - B.A.)
On behalf of
The Latupati of South Buru as heads of
adat
head of the Latupati of South
(signed)
(A.LESNUSSA - RAJA OF M A S A R E T E .)
This decision is in effect from the date it was decided above, that is 27 March 1969.
This Letter of Decision is sent to all the Raja and the village heads in the kecamatan of South Buru in their respective places to be carried out. Copies are also sent to:
1. The Honorable Head of the Kecamatan of South Buru in Leksula. 2. The Honorable Head of the Police in Leksula.
3. The Honorable Head of Security in Leksula.
Appendix Page 137
5. The Honorable Head of the Region for the Assemblies of God Church in Leksula.
6. The Honorable Heads of P.3. N.T.R. of Ambelau, Waesama, Masarete and Fogi in their respective locations, for their information and use as needed.
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