Appeals In Ritual Beheading By Indigenous Indonesian Tribe

Today's Jakarta Post discusses pending appeals of murder convictions of members of the indigenous tribal community of Naulu in the interior of Seram Island, Maluku, in Indonesia. The tribe carries on its tradition of ritual decapitation. A segment of the Nauli people are convinced that unless human heads are offered when repairing or replacing a clan house, illness or death will result. The chief of the Nuane community, Sahune Matoke, said his members were motivated by the belief that performing the customary ritual was a sacred mission. "They had no idea of any punishment for such a killing." Samson Tahapary, a lawyer filing an appeal for the Naulu said, "The government knows of the unlawful tradition but no action has been taken to make the Naulu people understand the law. " Samson added, "The judges' decision will not be a means to increase my clients' awareness and provide further guidance. So I'm filing an appeal for proper consideration of nonjudicial matters before passing a verdict."