A Legendary History in Witihama, Eastern Adonara, Indonesia: An Enduring Context for Disagreement

A Legendary History in Witihama, Eastern Adonara, Indonesia: An Enduring Context for Disagreement

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An anthropological literature dealing with conflict such as has afflicted Indonesia in recent years is beginning to emerge.The present article is one of a series dealing with different incidents and forms of conflict and violence in a region of eastern Indonesia.It furthers a discussion on contested claims for precedence.Such claims in Indonesia are maxi-dresses often made by means of legends of origin.Descent groups claiming outside origin may, nevertheless, demand political power from those claiming to be autochthonous.

The latter may or not concede those functions to others, but they commonly assert a mystical authority based on local origin.In Witihama, eastern Adonara, two branches of Lama Tokan clan dispute their relative status.One, which has long provided political leadership, claims to have originated in the Moluccas.The other, which attempts to preserve its mystical authority, deems itself to have originated at the top of the Boleng volcano, but its autochthonous origin is disputed Two Drawer Nightstand by others.This particular dispute has parallels elsewhere.

Unlike other incidents in the past, it seems both peaceable and permanent.