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Cow drowned into the sea for being impregnated by human
Thu, 10/23/2008 10:59 AM | Bali
(JP/Alit Kertaraharja)
Villagers from Julah in Tejakula, Buleleng, tow (see photo) a pregnant cow behind a boat into open sea as part of a local traditional ritual.
The cow, which is five months pregnant, was thrown out to the sea about 3 kilometers from land Monday. The villagers believe the animal was impregnated by a village elder.
During the ritual the man, who was caught red-handed having sexual intercourse with the cow two months ago, joined the boat trip in order to throw away his clothes to to symbolize him discarding his sins.
Julah customary village head Ketut Sidemen said the ritual, called gamya gamana, or freak weeding, and had been conducted there for generations. The decision to perform the ritual was made a local residents meeting.
In line with customary regulations, the perpetrator, identified only as PS, 70, was sanctioned to fund the expensive ceremony, which aimed to cleanse him of any bad influences.
Luh Ketut Suryani, a professor and activist, deplored the sancation against PS.
She said drowning a cow was baseless because sexual intercourse between a human being and am animal could not cause pregnancy due to the different chromosomes and genes of the two.
"The cow is not guilty, why shoud it be drowned? Why don't just use a symbol like what was done by the perpetrator?" she said.
Suryani's said she was concerned dealt with the financial situation of the owner, who lives below the poverty line.
"The cow, which has a high price, had to be thrown away. It will be a pity for the owner, who is already poor and is now forced to lose his priceless belonging." -- JP/Alit Kertaraharja
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Juanita (not verified) — Mon, 11/03/2008 - 8:29pm
THIS STORY WAS DISSAPOINTING, I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD READ:MAN INPREGNATED COW,NOW FOR HIS SIN SHE WILL SUFFER A HUMACOW CHILD!!!!NAW'IT WAS SICK CRUEL AND INHUMANE.
Hadian (not verified) — Sun, 11/02/2008 - 9:19pm
The drowning of the cow is the central part of a traditional ceremony called Ngelarung so as to make the cow to be reincarnated in the next life as a woman. That's why the villager put a piece of cloth called Poleng on the cow.
If the cow is not forced to have a reincarnation then the whole village will be in the state called Cuntaka (dirty) which is considered bad luck for the whole population.
It's very important to understand the whole situation before judging about animal cruelty and all.
Rochrider (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 1:52am
UN-freakin-believable! They should castrate the man, not drown the cow! It's not like the cow rang up and asked to the man to come over and do her. What a waste.
Shawn (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 9:18pm
Wait a second, this cow was raped by some guy and then they decide to drown the cow and let the guy just throw his clothes out to sea? Are you kidding? Bad day to be a cow I guess.
Angie morales (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 11:31am
They should drown the man, not the cow or cut his penis. Things like this leave with my mouth open because we are in the year 2008 and people are still very ignorant.
Agree (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 9:37am
I COMPLETELY agree with you!
Unfair and imbalanced (not verified) — Mon, 10/27/2008 - 7:19pm
I want to thank most of you who posted for making me laugh so hard this morning.
Animal sacrifice has been around since the beginning. But you americans (from the United States) have little room to ridicule these backward peoples.
Since Roe V. Wade you and your country have legally sacrificed more than 48 million baby humans.
Which culture is more barbaric?
P. Hardy (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 8:39am
These people are ignorant and although the Cow is "sacrificed" and drowned in pain, this will stop from future "horny incident" from happening again in the near future. As for the "perpetrator" will live in poverty and shame the rest of his life.
Poor souls.
BTW : "Let ye without sin cast the first judgment" lol :|
Cucimata (not verified) — Thu, 10/30/2008 - 10:15pm
I totally agree with Adi, unfair and imbalanced, Ned, Hardyandtiny and Edt.
On this planet, there is not one good way of doing or thinking.
To treat all indonesians or all balinese of backward people is ridiculous.
If foreigners don't like this country and the traditions of these people, why should they stay here, read The Jakarta Post... Oh, I forget, for sure, they live in a big villa around Kerobokan and they make a lot of money on the back of these backward locals.
In place of such a bad life in such a backward country, I confirm they should consider going back home to do more interesting things. They will probably enjoy much more to read the NWT, the WP, the Financial Times or Le Monde.... than to read the Jakarta Post and losing time complaining about backward local traditions.
a french speaking belgium reader of the Jakarta Post
Barney Rubble — Thu, 10/30/2008 - 2:33pm
It's obvious that the cow was culpable here. I've seen them around...out alone after dark...wearing make up, no headscarf etc. Probably sporting one of those cute...sorry, outrageously tempting bikinis that only tourist cows are allowed to wear.
The old man didn't stand a chance... it was a noble gesture of him to divest himself of his clothes and sponsor the execution, thereby absolving himself of any guilt....which he didn't have of course. The next time such a thing happens...for it is a ritual isn't it?....then stoning would be a more appropriate punishment for any cow that cannot provide four reliable (male) witnesses.
GPWASR10 (not verified) — Thu, 10/30/2008 - 10:26am
ADI,
These people boned a cow, and then drowned it because it was pregnant with a foul half man half beast "Man-Cow". Now follow along here; up until I heard you defend this foul practice as being a "cultural thing", it was thee stupidest thing I ever heard of, <--this distinction now belongs to you.
So to make it official, you Politically correct as a master...
ADI, that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of.