BELU

Belu is one of regencies in East Nusa Tenggara province Indonesia. It located in Timor Island. Its size is 2.445,57 km². Meanwhile in 2010 resident census, listed Belu resident is 352.400 lives. Belu is second biggest resident after Timor South Centre. Belu capital city is Atambua. Atambua is the second largest town in Timor after Kupang. Atambua resident registered 75.000 lives. Culture and traditionally, Belu is Timor custom society live in four ethnic groups and languages. Most Belu resident is Tetun. Beside Tetun concentrated in apart of west Tasifeto, Malacca, and Cobalima; there are also Marae and Bunak concentrated in Sadi and some villages in Tasifeto then Dawan R in Manlea and Biudukfoho, Malacca area. Belu resident generally comes from old Melayu (Proto-Melayu), certain race older and live earlier in Timor Island. Beside old Melayu, found in certain place young Melayu (DeuteroMelayu) and Asia (CIna). Proto Melayu, DuteroMelayu, or Asia has been mingled and they have been fastened in intermarried since hundreds and even thousands years ago. In Atambua and a few small towns such as Atapupu, Halilulik, Betun, there existed a number of small resident from outer Belu either outer Timor or inner Timor. Belu custom narrator, dubbed Mako’an narrate that Timor Island was disappear in surface, entirely covered by water and we can imagine that it is ice age (Glacial) it happened in 500 or 600 thousand years ago. In science, Glacial is apart of Neozoicum. Especially Pleitosen period (Dilluvium) earmarked appear of Giant human (bdk, Science Daily, 27 Mei 2010). 

            Allegedly, entirely earth surface covered by water including Timor. There lastly was a appearing a point that it is highest top of Timor. It appeared and shined! People in next generation called earth point appear with custom term Fo’in Nu’u Manu Matan, Fo’in Nu’u Bua Klau. Foin Nu’u Etu Kumum, Foin Nu’u Murak Husar. “It newly likes chicken eyes, it newly likes a piece of bitternut, it newly likes a clot of rice in hand, it newly likes coin navel”. And the small point is Laka’an Mountain later as highest peak in Belu. Therefore, it does not strange Belu dubbed it with name Foho Laka an, Manu Aman Laka an, Sa Mane Mesak, Baudinik Mesak. “Mount has its shine; a red cock shines, like single man, like single star”.

This peak of Laka’an mount certain by Belu society that it has bears first Belu human. Actually, there is a name memorized by ancestor of Belu live first in peak on Laka’an. First human live was a beautiful princess.

Here followings are piece of note Belu ancestor:

“According to Belu ancestor counsel, once upon in time, Timor Island covered by water entirely, except peak of Laka’an mount. One day, went down a deity princess in peak of mount and she lived there. The princess name was Laka Loro Kmesak in Belu language and it means “single princess” dis-originating from. Because of her amazing magic, she could birth child with unknown husband. BeluMako’an tells that “Husband” or unknown “male ancestor” approached “female ancestor” (LakaLoroKmesak), afterwards dubbed by tittle: Manu Aman Lakaan Nain means “a cock of peak Lakaan“. So, Laka Loro Kmesak also dubbed Na’in Bilak An means make and embodied self.

After a few years later Laka Loro Kmesak birth successive two sons and two daughters. Both sons named AtokLakaan and Taek Lakaan meanwhile tow daughters named Elok Loa LorokandBalok Loa Lorok. After they were growth up adult, they married each other by their mother.It is because there is nothing another family. Atok Lakaan marries Elok Loa Larak and Taek Lakaan marries with Balok Loak Lorok. They become Manu Aman Lakaan descendant and filled Belu, East Timor, Dawan, Rote, Sabu, Larantuka or Lamaoholotin eastern Flores Island. So, much Belu society profess matrilineal, because of LakaLoroKmesak. In spite of they finally historically, Manu Aman Lakaan progeny improve patrilineal by “buy” a wife to come in husband house. It is continuously improvement of interpreting matrilineal system where woman “bought” has meaning that the woman is highest dignity and praised, so  the husband clan willing to sacrifice their wealth to get a woman as a member husband clan household.

Observing the history of Manu Aman Lakaan above, we know that this generation is the first and originally resident of Timor Island. It is because the ancestor of Laka Loro Kmesak is not come from anywhere. But she comes down to peak of Lakaan. So, she dubbed as Turu Monu “drip from above”. All Turu Monu dubbed; Fohonain, and Rainain, means Mount owner, and land owner. Ainain and Fatuknain mean big tree owner and big stone owner. In the next improvement, Timor appears and apart of progeny begins to spread out to another places. They are not only in Lakaan foothills, but also spread out to Mandeu, Naitimu, Lidak, Jenilu, Lakekun, Litamali, Alas, Biboki, Insana, Wehali, Maukatar, Lubarlau, Ramelau, Sabu, Rote and Flores, and when Manu Aman Lakan descendant in another place growth then they back to visit Lakaan and they live Brotherhood. Moriskdok, tubukdok, wa’Ikdok, beakdok, fila nikar foho rai, to’o nikar foho rai. Mean as they live in their place before, they live and mighty new land and mount. There is another sentence. Ba ne’e, bauma, maine’e, maiuma. Mean go there is home, come here is home. Not foreign country and foreigner they dubbed Raioan, Fohooan. Mean progeny from this land and mount. The terms mean they sail along the shore, still back to Lakaan motherland.

Besides that, there is another group come from far away place. They are come from Asia, Malacca. They drop by islands, harbors, and they find out Timor. Timor searching enables Manu Aman Lakaan progeny has been spread out widely and they tell story that Timor is a dreamland; Laka Loro Kmesak is a supernatural princess. From the story told above, we could say that, the princess by her supernatural meets prince from Asia or anywhere. It is be a matter that the princess has bond among them with her. Presence this group dubbed: Dina Oan Bad aOan means people arrive in Timor from far away place, they cute, beautiful, and coddled. It seems that Manu Aman Lakaan firm and big physique. They have a secret relationship between Manu Aman Lakaan Nain and their ancestor.

According to Mako’an Belu, Dina oan, Bada Oan consists of four groups; 

1.      Ema Melus, they probably from Southeast Asia, and live for long time in Melanesia. 

2.  Ema Lubu-Doha, they are Southast Asia, and live long time in Luwuk-Donggala (Sulawesi), passed Larantuka and Lamaholot. 

3.      Ema Luta Rato Jo Pata atau Luta Tefa, they come from India and live long time in Sumatera, passed Sumbawa, Flores and Sumba. 

 4.      Ema Kisar Sit, come from Southeast Asia and live long time in Maluku. 

 5.      Sina Mutin Malaka, come from South China, Malacca. 

We could say that Dina Oan Bada Oan come from Pacific Asia, Southeast Asia, and South. It is an enough reason because Timorese is a mixture among Southeast Asia, South Asia and Pacific. But the Timorese custom is dominant of Turu Moru and Kisar Sit. It can be seemed in relation Tihar (Belu bongo drum) and Tifa (in Maluku). Timor and Maluku textile weave are same and root of Maluku custom is not release from custom from Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and Malaysia) and South Asia (India).

In the long time period, Dina oanBadaOan arrive in Timor and they bring a new civilization from proper culture they know before. It either fertilizes, hunt, farm, weave, and extract palm sugar, blacksmith, metal, and fisher. They bring music instrument like big drum (Tuhun), small drum (Tihar) and gong (Tala). Beside that, they related in intermarry and appear language in Timor such as Tetun, Dawan, Sabu, Rote, Kemak and Bunak. Languages in Timor are not distant from language in South Asia (India), and especially in related with Southeast Asia like Malay, Sanskrit, Tagalog, and Pacific. According to researchers that Bunak relate to Pacific culture and Tetun relate to Malay. But they live together in thousands years has made language in Timor mixture each other.

Based on various research and history tale in BAPPEDA KabupatenBelu (Planning and Development Foundation of Belu regency) stated that first Belunese human live at Belu was Melus Clan. Melus known as Ema fatuk oan ai oan means wood and stone resident. Melus characteristic is strong posture, muscular and short. Beside that, immigrant come to Belu is Sina Mutin Malaka. Malaka is immigrant in the very begining in Belusail to Timor drop by Larantuka. Especially for immigrants, they have another version story. Thus, the main matter there is a similar universal can be pulled from data and information. There is a tale that there was three brothers come from Malacca and live in Belu and gather with origin clan Melus. Names of three brothers are different according to Makoan (custom consule) in Belu.

Makoan Faturuin states that they are Nekin Mataus (Likusen), Suku Mataus (Sonbay), and Bara Mataus (Faturuin).

Makoan Dirma states that they are Loro Sankoe(DebulukWelakar), LoroBanleo (DirmaSanleo), Loro Sonbay (Dawan). 

Makoan Besikama states that they are Wehalin Nain, Wewiku Nain, and Haitimuk Naik.

They are an immigrant from Malacca is King or Loro have power, unity and society. Their coming to Malaka is to interlace trade relationship in Sandalwood and ethnic religion.The immigrants of Belu were leaded by a leader name Maromak Oan Liurai Nain in south Belu. Moreover, according to foreign researchers Maromak Oan power spread out to apart of Dawan areas (Insana and Biboki) in his assignment in Belu, Maromak Oan has hand-extension in Wewiku Wehali and Haitimuk Nain. There is also Faturuin, Sonabi, SuaiKamanasa, LoroLakekun, Dirma, Fialaran, Maubara, Biboki and Insana. Maromak Oan self live at Laran as center of Wewiku-Wehali empire power. They did not separate Belu be south and north as nowadays. According to historian, separate Belu into south and north was Dutch strategy to control society. When they in custom government, it appeared publication of government about kings golden age. What we note and known in Belu historical is Wewiku-Wehali Empire (entire Belu power center). There is Sonbay powered in Dawan in Mutis area. Dawanares like Miamafo and Dubay, there are 40.000 lives society.

According to old counsel from Wewiku-Wehali, to make easier government system Adjustment, MaromakOan sends his assistants to entire Belu as a Loro and Liurai. 

Registered names of leader sent from Wewiku-Wehali such Loro Dirma, Loro Lakekun, Biboki Nain, Harneno, and Insana then Nenometan Anas and Fialaran. There is also Fialaran empire in north Belu leaded by Dasi Mia Bauk with his assistant Loro Bauho, Lakekun, Naitimu, Asumanu, Lasiolat, and Lidak. There are also names like Dafala, Manleten, Umaklaran Sorbau, in development of Belu appeared three brothers command in north they are Tohe Nain, Maumutin, and Aitoon.

Based on contemplation of Belu historical, intermarry among LoroBauho and Klusin known as As Tanara subordinate DasiSanulu which famous up now, they are;Lasiolat, Asumanu, Lasaka, Dafala, Manukleten, Sobau, Lidak, Tohe Manumutin, and Aitoon. There areseveralexpressions in south and north well-known as four relationships. In the western Belu of north Belu known as Umahat, Rinbesi Hat they are Dafala, Manukleten, Umklaran Sorbau, and in eastern are AsumanuTohe, Besikama-Lasaen, Umalor-Lawain. It seems that one of four brothers embodied disappearance marked genesis of immigrants in Belu gather with the local resident Melus which has vanished long time ago.