Susan Rawaborot

This is a story about two women from Adonara Island, Susan Rawaborot (from Redon Tena Village) and Petronela Masi Suban (from Adobala Village). Together, they seek for and walk on the peace path.

Adonara and peace are unfortunately not always seeing each other eye to eye. People in the villages often fought each other, even kill each other. Conflicts could spark from land border, belis (dowry) dispute, or merely from throwing insults to each other – which often happened in the past.

In 2013, Susan’s uncle was murdered by someone from Adobala. “No one knows why,” Susan said. The situation quickly escalated and a fight broke. A harmonious atmosphere among the villagers had become very tensed and distant, including Susan – Masi’s friendship.

Life then took Susan – Masi to a cross-cutting line. In 2016, both of them were entrusted by Dinny Jusuf in Toraja Melo project, giving training on weaving to women in Mamasa, South Sulawesi.

“At that moment, goe (I) really wanted to hit Masi,” Susan said. She had a battle within herself. “If goe is nice to her, it feels like goe had betrayed Redon Tena. What can I say, my Ama Besar (uncle) was murdered.”

Masi Suban was feeling no less of discomfort. “Goe was afraid,” Masi said. “Really wanted to start a conversation with Susan, but I was so afraid.”

For s few weeks Susan – Masi did not speak to each other. They worked together, but just like complete strangers, they even dine separately. “It was agony because tite (we) were good friends in PEKKA,

Then, Easter celebration came. Susan and Masi got ready for the church. It was raining, “Goe offered Masi to go together.”So, off they both went to the church, started with a hug they forgave each other. “Let us let it go, why do tite quarrel,” Susan said. “Ama Besar’s death was his fate, maybe Ama did something wrong or else, tite don’t know.”

Susan – Masi had once again become friends. Redon Tena and Adobala were back to normal. “Families visited each other already,” Masi said. “Peace is so much better, right?”
#PuanIndonesia
#WomenStory
#PerempuanKepalaKeluarga

PUBLISHED BY Puan Indonesia
Go Top