Chief Justice Anwar Usman giving a speech at a discussion on the empowerment of customary law communities in Galesong Village, Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, Saturday (10/30/2021). Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

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Saturday, October 30, 2021 | 15:16 WIB

TAKALAR, Public Relations—The smart board mini courtroom was inaugurated onsite and virtually along with a discussion on the empowerment of customary law communities in Galesong Village, Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi on Saturday, October 30, 2021. The Chief Constitutional Justice and the other eight constitutional justices, Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah, Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, and other public officials were in attendance.

Chief Justice Anwar Usman said that Indonesia, with more than 17,000 islands/isles, 700 ethnicities, and 1,000 regional languages, used to be separate customary law communities that had existed long before the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia was founded. They had even existed before the kingdoms of ancient times.

“Customary law communities were not only recognized by the Dutch Indies government politically, but also formally,” he said.

Protection for those communities, he added, was a consequence of the constitutionalism that the constitution drafters had chosen. The Constitution must be positioned as a living constitution in the nation and state life. Its norms and values will continue to live, develop, and be enriched by new values and systems.

Justice Anwar also expressed his admiration for the philosophy of the people of Galesong and other regions in South Sulawesi regarding the meaning of truth: that the truth must always be established on earth.

“The truth will not be silenced forever. In the Qur’an [Allah] said that when the truth comes, all falsehood will be destroyed. I believe this philosophy applies to any ethnic groups. Violence can never win forever. Even if [it] wins, it will only but for a moment,” he said.

At the event, the chief justice received a customary title of Karaeng Makule Galesong. Deputy Chief Justice Aswanto received the title of Karaeng Sitaba Galesong and Justice Arief  Hidayat Karaeng Arinra Galesong. These titles were awarded to them by the chief of the customary law and constitution village of Galesong, Aminudin Saleh.

Continuous Innovations

The inauguration was followed by a discussion on the empowerment of customary law communities. A figure of the village, Komarudin Azis, asked about what should be done to accelerate the development of the people following the modern era and changes in the world.

Justice Arief explained, “Continuous innovations is the key. Unrelenting, creative, constructive innovations to face rapid changes in the midst of our technologically literate society,” he said.

Therefore, he added, mastery of current technology is required. The people of Galesong must improve their skills in information technology, agriculture, fishery, and other disciplines as well as improve the quality of their human resources.

No less important was the commitment to preserving the local wisdom of Galesong Village. Even though technology is developing rapidly, Justice Arief believes the people of Galesong are able to preserve their culture, customs, and noble cultural values that they have cultivated for a long time.

“Those constitute the constitutional rights of Indonesian citizens,” Justice Arief stressed. He also reminded the audience to make Pancasila their ideology and direction in their community.

Writer        : Nano Tresna Arfana
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 11/2/2021 14:58 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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