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Getting out the vote in Baduy Luar
Exercising (the franchise): Nasina, a resident of Gazebo hamlet, casts his vote in Marengo, having made the journey to the (relatively) nearby village since his home town had no polling station
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span class="inline inline-none">Exercising (the franchise): Nasina, a resident of Gazebo hamlet, casts his vote in Marengo, having made the journey to the (relatively) nearby village since his home town had no polling station.
Kanekes village in Lebak regency in Banten province, about 180 kilometers from Jakarta, is home to about 12,000 people, more than 7,300 of whom went to the polling stations to cast their votes in the legislative election held on April 9.
The village is the seat for 60 kampungs, including three in Baduy Dalam, or Inner Baduy. The local residents are famous for their simple and traditional lifestyle, for resisting the encroachment of outsiders and for their moral character.
On election day, residents of the three Baduy Dalam hamlets, which are considered sacred places, respectfully declined to vote.
Meanwhile, officials set up 15 TPS, or polling stations, in the kampungs where the Baduy Luar tribe, or Outer Baduy, live. The Baduy Luar, while extremely traditional, are somewhat more accepting of those from the outside.
The jaro, or local headman, in Kanekes, Dainah, said that he had been busy inspecting the TPS in several kampung and that everything had been aman (safe) and was proceeding smoothly.
Another resident, Idong, also hoped things would go well, although he would not be participating. 'We can only pray that runs the voting proceeds safely and peaceful, without commotion, in Kanekes and in other parts of Indonesia.'
The young man from Baduy Dalam was out on the road between Cibeo and Marengo kampungs on Wednesday, to run some errands while he himself did not vote.
In Marengo, people showed a spirit of bonhomie by inviting the residents of Balingbing and Gazebo, whose communities lacked polling stations, to cast their ballots at the TPS in town.
Politely, those in Marengo allowed their neighbors to vote first, in deference to their longer journey to the polls ' proof that those who find themselves in office for the next legislative session still have something to learn from the people who they will represent.
' JP/P.J.LEO
