Reconciliation in the Land of the Sun
LAMALERA has been dealing with the Somi-Ruma tragedy for three centuries. The two members of the Batafor tribe are accused of having caused the death of a member of the Bataona, one of the chief tribes at Lamalera situated at the southern tip of Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara. The communal court sentenced both to death, with drowning the means of execution.
Though long gone, the sad event seems to have remained in the memory of the Lamalera community for generations. It has become an endless mental conflict, as if it were a bloody curse handed down on them. Until one day early in July, when a reconciliation ceremony was performed to reunite the separated tribes and to bring peace to the conflicting parties.
Tempo covered the ceremony and the changes taking place at the village dubbed the Land of the Sun.
September 19, 2006
LAMALERA, July 2, 2006, in front of the St. Petrus-Paulus Churchs altar, five tribal representatives of Lamalera were standing solemnly before Bishop Kherubim Pareira. Each of them was holding an important document on the history of the tribes in the fishing village at the southern tip of the Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara. The document is a confession of Lamaleras tribes to their involvement in the execution of Somi and Ruma.
The document con
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