Residents of Bukti village in Kubutambahan subdistrict, Buleleng, were aghast upon finding out that one of their community members had copulated with a cow. Village elders decided to hold a special meeting to discuss such an act deemed deviant, which is punishable according to local customary law. "We are deeply concerned by this incident and will organize a paruman adat *village meeting* tonight," Nyoman Suardana, an official at the village, said on Thursday. Until now, all customary villages or Desa Pekraman in Bali have an autonomous right to punish members who have breached the customary law. Punishments range from small fines up to social isolation for a certain period of time or, in rare cases, banishment from the village. The punishments are usually discussed and determined at a paruman adat, a large meeting consisting of village elders, temple priests and all...