Sumba Island, Indonesia: Slavery Persists Despite Legal Ban
On the Indonesian island of Sumba, located just two hours from the popular tourist destination of Bali, slavery continues to be a daily reality. Individuals are born into bondage and forced to work without pay from dawn until dusk. These enslaved people, known locally as 'ata', can be transferred as part of marriage arrangements and are sometimes subjected to physical abuse and rape by their owners. Many accept their situation, believing their status is immutable, as expressed by Kanisius Kanyali Hambarita, a young enslaved man. Despite slavery being outlawed in Indonesia for over 160 years, it persists on Sumba.
The continued existence of slavery on Sumba, despite its illegality for over 160 years, highlights a significant gap between legal frameworks and on-the-ground enforcement in Indonesia. This situation suggests systemic challenges in governance and social structures that permit hereditary bondage to persist. The resignation of victims points to deeply ingrained social hierarchies and a lack of effective state intervention or societal support mechanisms. Addressing this requires not only legal reform but also robust community-based programs, education, and economic empowerment initiatives to dismantle the underlying conditions that perpetuate this form of exploitation and to ensure the rule of law is universally applied.
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