Thieves in their Own Land

Villagers on the Island are finding it increasingly difficult to make a living. Even fishing is restricted.

April 22, 2003

THE full moon softly shines on Kampung Komodo, casting light across leaves of trees onto the front yard of a house where young men and women gather around a bonfire. Singing and laughing, the party comes to life as the villagers savor roasted fish, drinking a local brew called bakar menyala, literally meaning "burning hot", or simply BM for short. It's a traditional concoction made of the juice of an aren tree known as sopi. The party turns wil

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