The Role of Indigenous Leaders in the Mediation of Land-Based Social Conflicts in the Bugis Makassar Indigenous Peoples: A Qualitative Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31941/pj.v25i1.7753Keywords:
Indigenous Leaders, Conflict Mediation, Siri' na Pacce, Legal Pluralism, Restorative Justice.Abstract
This study aims to understand in depth the role of indigenous leaders in mediating land-based social conflicts in the Bugis–Makassar indigenous peoples, especially in Jeneponto Regency, South Sulawesi. Land conflicts in this region are not only rooted in the issue of ownership, but also concern the value of honor (siri') and social solidarity (pacce). The approach is qualitative, with a phenomenological case study design, enriched by a socio-legal perspective that views customary law as a social system embedded in Indonesian legal pluralism. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and documentation studies of customary mediation practices. The results of the study show that traditional leaders (ade' to-matoa) play a strategic role as moral mediators, guardians of social harmony, and the link between customary law and state law. The customary mediation process is carried out through three main stages, namely Mappatettong Siri', Mappasilasae, and Pappaseng Siri'na Ade', which emphasizes the values of honesty (lempu') and empathy (pacce). The value of siri' na pacce serves as a principle of restorative justice, placing the restoration of social relations above formal punishment. These findings show that Bugis-Makassar customary law remains a living law capable of filling the void in substantive justice within the national legal system. This research recommends strengthening customary institutions as strategic partners of the state in community-based dispute resolution, and integrating local cultural values into national legal policies to make the Indonesian legal system more humane and context-sensitive
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