a column by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada
Indifferent
Lots of holidays in Bali this month; Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi, and Panca Wali Krama. The Balinese are supposed to be happy, but they don’t.
Balinese in Karangasem have suffered due to the KKM. They lost their money because the cooperative body was banned by the authorities due to illegal operation (not in accordance with their statutes). They can’t afford to buy things (new clothes, etc.) they need to celebrate the holidays.
“How can we afford to eat pork since all of our money has gone due to the KKM and the police conspiracy,” says I Made Bugbug Seraya.
When we can’t afford to make ‘lawar’, our cows are finished and our saving is gone, how can we make ourselves happy and able to celebrate Galungan and Kuningan.”
“It is said that Galungan is to celebrate the victory of goodness, but why our brothers in Karangasem are in pain?”
The officials may talk about a cooperative breaking the laws, the police may talk about law enforcement, the KKM directors may apologize, but the main thing is how the farmers in Karangasem who have sold their lands, the labours and other common people who put all their money in the cooperative can get their money back.
“So never talk about general election, nor talk about changes when you can’t even get their money back. What for then they vote you during the election?”
Not only in Karangasem the people suffer loss, but also in Badung. The young people get angry as they are not allowed by the traditional leader association to make ogoh-ogoh?
The aim is good, that is to prevent any riots as we are heading the general elections. But the reason behind this is not logical.
The Balinese are ‘good’ at debating and fighting on small things. If ogoh-ogoh is banned, they still can debate or ‘fight’ on other things, such as village separation, village border, cemetery use, black magic, or about corrupt village heads.
“Why can’t they just ban desa pekraman (customary villages), cremations, or close the cemeteries, so that the Balinese will have nothing to fight for?” I Wayan Degag Bantat interrupts.
Nobody laughs. Just two days ago the police investigated the palm toddy warung. Ten jerrycans of palm toddy were taken by the police. When no palm toddy available, the palm toddy drinkers association will have no fun anymore.
“The ogoh-ogoh is banned, but posters of the caleg which the people are sick of, are not. If our leaders have this way of thinking, the young people may just make posters instead ogoh-ogoh in future,” I Wayan further says.
It seems that the gods may still be angry as the posters have been installed without any ceremony. That’s why strong winds often ruin the posters.
Lots of ceremonies keep the Balinese busy.
Glossary:
Balinese in Karangasem have suffered due to the KKM. They lost their money because the cooperative body was banned by the authorities due to illegal operation (not in accordance with their statutes). They can’t afford to buy things (new clothes, etc.) they need to celebrate the holidays.
“How can we afford to eat pork since all of our money has gone due to the KKM and the police conspiracy,” says I Made Bugbug Seraya.
When we can’t afford to make ‘lawar’, our cows are finished and our saving is gone, how can we make ourselves happy and able to celebrate Galungan and Kuningan.”
“It is said that Galungan is to celebrate the victory of goodness, but why our brothers in Karangasem are in pain?”
The officials may talk about a cooperative breaking the laws, the police may talk about law enforcement, the KKM directors may apologize, but the main thing is how the farmers in Karangasem who have sold their lands, the labours and other common people who put all their money in the cooperative can get their money back.
“So never talk about general election, nor talk about changes when you can’t even get their money back. What for then they vote you during the election?”
Not only in Karangasem the people suffer loss, but also in Badung. The young people get angry as they are not allowed by the traditional leader association to make ogoh-ogoh?
The aim is good, that is to prevent any riots as we are heading the general elections. But the reason behind this is not logical.
The Balinese are ‘good’ at debating and fighting on small things. If ogoh-ogoh is banned, they still can debate or ‘fight’ on other things, such as village separation, village border, cemetery use, black magic, or about corrupt village heads.
“Why can’t they just ban desa pekraman (customary villages), cremations, or close the cemeteries, so that the Balinese will have nothing to fight for?” I Wayan Degag Bantat interrupts.
Nobody laughs. Just two days ago the police investigated the palm toddy warung. Ten jerrycans of palm toddy were taken by the police. When no palm toddy available, the palm toddy drinkers association will have no fun anymore.
“The ogoh-ogoh is banned, but posters of the caleg which the people are sick of, are not. If our leaders have this way of thinking, the young people may just make posters instead ogoh-ogoh in future,” I Wayan further says.
It seems that the gods may still be angry as the posters have been installed without any ceremony. That’s why strong winds often ruin the posters.
Lots of ceremonies keep the Balinese busy.
Glossary:
- KKM: a cooperative body located in East Bali that has just banned by the authorities due to illegal operation (not in accordance with their statutes).
- lawar: Balinese dish of grated, spiced raw meats.
- ogoh-ogoh: Giant doll made of paper and bamboo, made to celebrated the Silence Day (Nyepi).
