PALU, KOMPAS.com — Governor of Central Sulawesi H.B. Paliudju was forced to fine the Regent of Sigi Drs. Hidayat MSi for breaking a local custom.
"With a heavy heart, I have to sentence the regent with a gysu (fine) because he accidentally broke a strict custom during a traditional dining procession," said the governor at the first indu Lake Festival (FDL), in Tomado, the capitol of Lindhu district, Monday.
Before starting the traditional processsion, The Governor H.B. Paliudju had been appointed to hold the role of 'To Lindhu' (leader/king of Lindu) by the local traditional institution. After this appointment as a Lindhu official, the governor and wife, Mrs. Kamsiah Paliudju, with other dignitaries took part in the traditional dining procession.
After the traditional dining procession, the Regent of Sigi Hidayat accidentally washed his hands before the 'To Lindhu' (the governor's role) - because he was finished having his meal. In the Lindhu tradition, in a dining procession, it's wrong to wash one's hands before the king or leader.
"As long as the leader is still dining and hadn't washed his hands, then the others mustn't supercede him. Well, the regent did it while the governor was still dining, so according to Lindhu traditional law the perpetrator must be fined with a bull," said him.
However, the bull fine can now be compensated monetarily. "In the old days the fine had to be a real bull. But now it can be paid in accordance with the bull's price in the current market," said the governor.
The governor of Paliudju asked Regent Hidayat to pay the fine at the second FDL in 2010. Regent Sigi Hidayat said that he didn't mind the fine because it was a traditional law, though he confessed it was an accident that he washed his hands before the person who was already appointed as leader by the Lindhu traditional institution.
"I don't mind and I will pay the fine in cash during the second FDL scheduled for 2010."
"Barnabas, one of the tradition keeper in the district said that the Lindhu tradition is quite severe, and it has been applied for generations in Lindhu.
"The point is the Lindhu traditions still apply so far. In the past the fines weren't just a bull, but also with a few other items, including a sarong or cloth."
The first FDL held for three days from December 5 to 7, 2009 was inaugurated by Governor HB Paliudju by the Lindhu Lake, and was scheduled to be closed in the evening of December 7, by Regent Sigi Hidayat. (MBK/C17-09)
