From lord of the earth to village head; Adapting to the nation-state in West Timor

Abstract

[...]of significant investments in road construction over the past ten years, the majority of villages are now accessible to vehicle traffic even during the wet season. A second example of the artificiality of imposed desa government is provided by the functioning of the local village councils. Since 1979 each village is required to have a council with local representatives appointed in ten predetermined areas of responsibility, such as development, family welfare, health, religion, and so on. [...]there is the narrow view which focuses on the formal organization and structure of indigenous political entities. [...]Nabuasa leaders who stayed on as formally recognized local government representatives lost the title 'great temukung' (temukun naek) and became village heads {kepala desa) with jurisdiction over 9 The low level of literacy among the rural Meto population to this day implies that any sort of affiliation with the 'Communist' movement was inspired more by a combination of populist propaganda and hamlet solidarity than by any detailed understanding of historical materialism and Marxism.