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110-569: Buru (formerly spelled Boeroe , Boro , or Bouru ) is the third largest island within the Maluku Islands of Indonesia . It lies between the Banda Sea to the south and Seram Sea to the north, west of Ambon and Seram islands. The island belongs to Maluku province and includes the Buru and South Buru regencies. Their administrative centers, Namlea and Namrole , respectively, have ports and are

220-491: A fauna that is rather more Australasian than Asian. Malukan biodiversity and its distribution are affected by various tectonic activities; most of the islands are geologically young, being from 1 million to 15 million years old, and have never been attached to the larger landmasses. The Maluku islands differ from other areas in Indonesia; they contain some of the country's smallest islands, coral island reefs scattered through some of

330-414: A long-skirted tunic, and women are dressed in sarong and a shorter jacket. However, the dress color systematically varies between the different tribes of the island. The unique flora, fauna and tropical forest ecosystem of the island are systematically researched by both Indonesian and foreign scientific bodies. The original vegetation on the coastal plain has been cleared, and much of the mountain forest on

440-607: A matter of debate for many experts. The first recorded word that can be identified with Maluku comes from Nagarakertagama , an Old Javanese eulogy of 1365. Canto 14 stanza 5 mentioned Maloko , which Pigeaud identified with Ternate or Moluccas. A theory holds that Maluku comes from the phrase Moloko Kie Raha or Moloku Kie Raha . In the Ternate language , raha means "four", while kie here means "mountain". Kie raha or "four mountains" refers to Ternate , Tidore , Bacan , and Jailolo (the name Jailolo has been used in

550-660: A sense of shared interest with Europeans, particularly among the Ambonese. The Dutch arrived in 1599 and competed with the Portuguese in the area for trade. The Dutch East India Company in the course of Dutch–Portuguese War allied with the Sultan of Ternate and conquered Ambon and Tidore in 1605, expelling the Portuguese. A Spanish counterattack from the Philippines restored Iberian rule in parts of North Maluku up to 1663. However,

660-455: A small island to the west of the large island of Halmahera , but has been moved to Sofifi on Halmahera itself. The capital of the remaining part of Maluku province remains at Ambon . Religious and ethnic conflict erupted across the islands in January 1999. The subsequent 18 months were characterized by fighting between local groups of Muslims and Christians against jihadist groups from Java and

770-481: Is 30 °C (86 °F) while the wet's average maximum is 23 °C (73 °F). Northern Maluku has its wet monsoon from December to March in line with the rest of Indonesia. Each island group has its climatic variations, and the larger islands tend to have drier coastal lowlands and their mountainous hinterlands are wetter. Religion in Maluku Islands (December 2023) The population of Maluku Province in 2020

880-547: Is Husni Hentihu and Vice Regent is Ramli Umasugi. South Buru Regency (administrative center Namrole) has an area of 5,060 km and includes Ambalau island southeast of Buru (and other small islets). Its governing structure had not been completed as of February 2010, and the current acting Regent was then A. R. Uluputti. The regency is divided into 6 districts: Namrole (centre – Elfule), Kepala Madan (centre – Biloro), Leksula (centre – Leksula), Fena Fafan (centre – Waekatin), Waesama (centre – Wamsisi), and Ambalau (centre – Siwar);

990-654: Is a big industry across the islands but particularly around Halmahera and Bacan . The Aru Islands produce pearls, and Seram exports lobsters . Logging is a significant industry on the larger islands with Seram producing ironwood and teak and ebony are produced on Buru. 15th century 16th century 15th century 16th century 17th century 18th century 19th century 16th century 17th century 15th century 16th century Portuguese India 17th century Portuguese India 18th century Portuguese India Ambalau Ambelau or Ambalau

1100-459: Is a volcanic island in the Banda Sea within Maluku Islands of Indonesia . The island forms an administrative district ( Indonesian : Kecamatan Ambalau ) which is part of the South Buru Regency ( Indonesian : Kabupaten Buru Selatan ) of Maluku province ( Indonesian : Provinsi Maluku ), Indonesia . It has a land area of 306 km , and had a population of 6,846 at the 2010 Census;

1210-481: Is common in dry areas. The northwestern part of the island has steep limestone cliffs covered by mixed forests that include Shorea trees, and stunted Dacrydium novo-guineense is present at the mountain tops. Primary forests constitute 60% of the island, and are mostly found in the areas of Air Buaya and Waeapo. There is only 0.51% of secondary forests, in the district Batabual, and 0.9% of mangroves, at Waeapo, Air Buaya, Batabual and Namlea. A significant part of

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1320-498: Is dominated by Cenozoic sedimentary rocks, probably originating from the Australian continent; Also present are younger volcanic rocks and more recent alluvial deposits. Sedimentary deposits in the form of silt, peat, sand and mud are mostly found in the river valleys. Metamorphic rocks of slate , schist and arkose dominate the northern part of the island. Very few mineral deposits of Buru have industrial value, and only limestone

1430-656: Is engaged in growing rice, maize, sweet potato , beans , coconuts, cocoa , coffee, clove and nutmeg . Other significant activities are animal farming and fishing. The island was first mentioned around 1365. Between 1658 and 1942, it was colonised by the Dutch East India Company and then by the Crown of the Netherlands . The Dutch administration relocated many local villages to the newly built island capital at Kayeli Bay for working at clove plantations. It also promoted

1540-494: Is linked with other parts of Indonesia via sea routes and has two main ports in Namlea and Namrole. With 866 registered cargo and passenger vessels, the average transport rate in 2008 was 400 tonnes per day. Speedboats "Bahari Express" run daily between Namlea and the capital of Maluku Province, Ambon (distance 160 km, travel time three hours). By agreement between the administration of Buru district and local military authorities,

1650-504: Is mined commercially. However, significant reserves of oil and gas were discovered in the shelf in 2009. There are numerous coral reefs around the island. The soil mostly consists of yellow-red Podsol , Organosol , Grumosol and various mixtures. The climate is equatorial monsoonal , wet, and in general typical for the Maluku Islands. The rainy season extends from October to April with the highest rainfall in December–February. Despite

1760-419: Is mostly mountainous, especially in the central and western parts. Of the 9,505 km of the island area, 1,789 km lie 900 m above mean sea level, 872 km above 1,200 m and 382 km above 1,500 m. Flat areas are located in narrow strips near the coast and along the banks of river Apo. There they form a valley of the same name. Much of the island is covered with tropical rain forest . The Apo River

1870-433: Is shaped like an oval, elongated from west to east. The maximum length is about 130 km (81 mi) from east to west and 90 km (56 mi) from north to south. The coastline is smooth, with the only major indentation being Kayeli Bay located on the eastern coast. The bay also has a smooth, oval shape. It extends into the island to 8–12 km and has a maximum width of 17 km; the width decreases to 9 km at

1980-457: Is the longest river of Buru. It flows nearly straight to the north-east and empties into Kayeli Bay; however, its bed is very winding for hundreds of meters, with loops all along its length. Two other permanent rivers are Geren and Nibe; the rest are intermittent rivers with discontinuous flow. The river discharge varies significantly through the year, reaching a maximum in the rainy season. Indonesian sources often include wae (meaning river) before

2090-583: Is the subject of two major historical works of natural history by Georg Eberhard Rumphius : the Herbarium Amboinense and the Amboinsche Rariteitkamer . Rainforest covered most of northern and central Maluku, which, on the smaller islands has been replaced by plantations, including the region's endemic cloves and nutmeg . The Tanimbar Islands and other southeastern islands are arid and sparsely vegetated, much like nearby Timor . In 1997

2200-492: The 1975 Dutch train hostage crisis , the 1977 Dutch train hijacking , and the 1977 Dutch school hostage crisis to bring attention to their plight for an independent Republic of South Maluku. Maluku is one of the first provinces of Indonesia, proclaimed in 1945 and lasting until 1999 when the Maluku Utara and Halmahera Tengah Regencies were split off as a separate province of North Maluku . Its capital used to be Ternate , on

2310-588: The Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference of 23 August – 2 November 1949. In April 1950, just before the abolition of RIS and inclusion of most of eastern Indonesia to the Republic of Indonesia, the local authorities of Buru, Ambon, Seram and several smaller nearby islands proclaimed the establishment of an independent Republic of South Moluccas ( Indonesian : Republik Maluku Selatan , RMS) and committed to maintain close political ties with

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2420-644: The Manusela National Park , and in 2004, the Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park , were established, for the protection of endangered species. Nocturnal marsupials , such as cuscus and bandicoots , make up the majority of the mammal species and introduced mammals include Malayan civets and feral pigs. Bird species include approximately 100 endemics with the greatest variety on the large islands of Halmahera and Seram. North Maluku has two species of endemic birds of paradise. Uniquely among

2530-836: The Pieridae and 7% of the Papilionidae found on Buru are endemic to the island. The vegetation is characteristic of tropical lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen rain forests, with the dominant family of Dipterocarpaceae , genera of Hopea , Shorea and Vatica , and the individual species of Anisoptera thurifera , Hopea gregaria , Hopea iriana , Hopea novoguineensis , Shorea assamica , Shorea montigena , Shorea selanica and Vatica rassak . Some of these trees may grow to more than 30 metres (98 ft) and are usually bound by thick lianas and other epiphytes . Open forest, woodland, and savanna areas also exist on Buru. The fire-resistant paper bark tree ( Melaleuca cajuputi )

2640-525: The 178 recorded species of birds, 10 are endemic to Buru and nearby islands: Buru racket-tail ( Prioniturus mada ), black-lored parrot ( Tanygnathus gramineus ), blue-fronted lorikeet ( Charmosyna toxopei ), Buru honeyeater ( Lichmera deningeri ), Buru cuckooshrike ( Coracina fortis ), Buru jungle flycatcher ( Rhinomyias additus ), madanga ( Madanga ruficollis ), Buru white-eye ( Zosterops buruensis ), tawny-backed fantail ( Rhipidura superflua ) and Buru monarch ( Monarcha loricatus ). Among those,

2750-737: The 17th century during the Dutch–Portuguese War , also known as the Spice War. A second influx of immigrants primarily from Java began in the early 20th century under the Dutch and continues in the Indonesian era, which has also caused a lot of controversy as the Transmigrant programs are thought to be a contributing factor to the Maluku Riots . The etymology of the word Maluku is unclear and has been

2860-431: The 1950s–1990s. The local communities speak Buru , Lisela and Ambelau languages in everyday life, however, the national Indonesian language is used as a means of international communication and is also used for writing. Also common is Ambon dialect of Malay language ( Melayu Ambon ). The latter is widely used in the Maluku Islands as a second language and is a simplified form of Indonesian language with additions of

2970-433: The 1960s and 1970s, during the military regime of General Soeharto , Buru became one of the main places of exile and imprisonment of political dissidents – primarily communists and other left-wing representatives, as well as dissident intellectuals. Most camps were closed on Buru in 1980. More than 12,000 people had served a prison sentence in those camps by then, and at least several hundred had died or been killed. One of

3080-642: The 1990s resulted in frequent conflicts among Buru people over religious grounds. So within a few days in December 1999, 43 people were killed and at least 150 houses burned in the Wainibe village. One of the first mentions of Buru occurred in the Nagarakretagama – an Old Javanese eulogy to Hayam Wuruk , the ruler of the Majapahit Kingdom , dating back to 1365. The island appears in the third line of 15th song in

3190-592: The Bible to Buru language , which was started by the early Dutch missionaries. Maluku Islands The islands were known as the Spice Islands because of the nutmeg , mace , and cloves that were exclusively found there, the presence of which sparked European colonial interests in the 16th century. The Maluku Islands formed a single province from Indonesian independence until 1999, when they were split into two provinces. A new province, North Maluku , incorporates

3300-682: The British. During the French Revolutionary Wars and again in the Napoleonic Wars , British forces captured the islands in 1796–1801 and 1810, respectively, and held them until 1817. In that time they uprooted many of the spice trees for transplantation throughout the British Empire . With the declaration of a single republic of Indonesia in 1950 to replace the federal state, a Republic of South Maluku (Republik Maluku Selatan, RMS)

3410-511: The Dutch in this part of the island. The Kayeli ethnicity with its own language was formed as a mixture of the newly arriving settlers and the native population of the fort area. The presence among the ancestors of the tribal aristocracy and interaction with the Dutch colonial administration resulted in a special position for the Kayeli over the next centuries, who claimed the role of indigenous elite of

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3520-583: The Dutch monopolized the production and trade of spices through a ruthless policy. This included the genocidal conquest of the nutmeg-producing Banda Islands in 1621, the elimination of the English in Ambon in 1623, and the subordination of Ternate and Tidore in the 1650s. An anticolonial resistance movement led by a Tidore prince, the Nuku Rebellion , engulfed large parts of Maluku and Papua in 1780-1810 and co-opted

3630-443: The Indonesian military backing them leading to the destruction of thousands of houses, the displacement of approximately 500,000 people, the loss of thousands of lives, and the segregation of Muslims and Christians. The Maluku Islands have a total area of 850,000 km (330,000 sq mi), 90% of which is sea. There are an estimated 1027 islands. The largest two islands, Halmahera and Seram , are sparsely populated, while

3740-643: The Maitimu family and village office of Negeri Ema, alongside many potteries. In August 1511 the Portuguese conquered the city-state of Malacca . The most significant lasting effects of the Portuguese presence were the disruption and reorganization of the Southeast Asian trade, and in eastern Indonesia—including Maluku—the introduction of Christianity. One Portuguese diary noted, "It is over thirty years since they became Moors ". Afonso de Albuquerque learned of

3850-516: The Makassar and Dutch East India Company for control over production and trade in spices in the east of the Malay archipelago resulted in military conflict. In 1648, a Dutch expedition to Buru expelled the Makassar from the island and destroyed their buildings and boats; instead of re-using the existing clove plantations, the Dutch burned more than three thousand trees, as they were not in position to settle on

3960-471: The Maluku Islands, the Aru Islands have a purely Papuan fauna including kangaroos, cassowaries, and birds of paradise. While many ecological problems affect both small islands and large landmasses, small islands suffer their particular problems. Development pressures on small islands are increasing, although their effects are not always anticipated. Although Indonesia is richly endowed with natural resources,

4070-520: The Ministry of Industry of Indonesia has approved a plan to build major cement plants on the island. The expansion of tourism is hindered by the lack of infrastructure on the island. Apart from agriculture and engineering, other significant economic areas are trade, hotel industry and catering (19.19% of GDP in 2008), custom services (12.74%), transport and communication (3.10%), construction (3.13%), financial sector (2.64%) and energy and water (0.49%). Buru

4180-534: The Namlea, Air Buaya, Waeapo, Batubual and Waplau areas, whereas nutmeg (143 ha, 75 tonnes) is restricted to Batubual. Teak plantations are found almost everywhere on Buru and complement the natural sources of timber. Animal farming is of secondary importance, but its role is gradually increasing. The major animals are cows (41,349 animals as of 2008), buffalo (3,699), chickens (more than 1,346,000), ducks (195,000), sheep (26,950), domestic pigs (1,276) and horses (497). In 2008, there were 410 fishing enterprises with

4290-528: The Netherlands. After unsuccessful attempts to absorb the RMS through negotiations, the Republic of Indonesia initiated a six-month military conflict in July 1950. In December 1950, Buru was brought under the control of Indonesian troops and proclaimed part of the Republic of Indonesia. Between 1950 and 1965, the policy of the new government was aimed at rapid social, political and economic integration of Buru into Indonesia. In

4400-572: The Pacific Ocean – Seram Sea ( Indonesian : Laut Seram ) on the north and Banda Sea ( Indonesian : Laut Banda ) to the south and west. To the east, it is separated by the Manipa Strait ( Indonesian : Selat Manipa ) from Seram Island ( Indonesian : Pulau Seram ). With an area of 9,505 km (3,670 sq mi), Buru is the third largest among the Maluku Islands ( Indonesian : Kepulauan Maluku ) after Halmahera and Seram. Buru

4510-457: The South Buru Regency split up from the Buru Regency, the island became part of it, maintaining its kecamatan status. The island is divided into seven administrative units of lower rank, called village ( Indonesian : desa ) or settlement ( Indonesian : kelurahan ), namely Kampung Baru, Lumoy, Masawoy, Selasi, Siwar, Ulima and Elara. Phonetics of the local languages reduces the vowel in

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4620-518: The VOC to send several punitive expeditions against Papua. However, the main interest of the VOC was in the spice trade, and active economic exploitation of a small inaccessible island was considered unprofitable. The VOC concentrated plantations on a few well-developed and well-protected, and by the end of the 17th century had relocated significant part of the local population to neighboring Buru as labor on its clove plantations. In administrative terms, Ambalau

4730-483: The administrative center at Namlea. It is divided into 10 districts: Namlea (center in Namlea), Waeapo (center – Waenetat), Waplau (center – Waplau), Batubual (center – Ilath), Teluk Kaiely (centre – Kaiely), Waelata (centre – Basakak), Lolong Guba (centre – Kubalahin), Lilialy (centre – Sawa), Air Buaya (center – Air Buaya) and Fena Leisela (center – Wamlana). The governor (Regent or Indonesian : bupati , as of October 2009)

4840-455: The annual catch of 3,891 tonnes of fish and seafood. The major commercial species are tuna (900 tonnes), sardines (420 tonnes) and mackerel (385 tonnes). The industry employs only about 2,700 islanders and contributes about 7% to the GDP. Among the 537 enterprises registered in 2008, 482 were engaged in processing of agricultural products and 44 in engineering, chemicals and repair. In January 2010,

4950-479: The area between Morotai and Sula , with the arc of islands from Buru and Seram to Wetar remaining within the existing Maluku Province . North Maluku is predominantly Muslim, and its capital is Sofifi on Halmahera island. Maluku province has a larger Christian population, and its capital is Ambon . Though originally Melanesian , many island populations especially in the Banda Islands , were massacred in

5060-473: The coast, there were several multi-ethnic settlements with more than 200 houses ( ibu kota kecamatan ). This local variety of terms for a "settlement" puzzled the Dutch colonizers trying to systematise the local registries. Traditional Buru houses were made from bamboo, often on stilts. The roofs were covered with palm leaves or reeds. Cement, metal and tiles were introduced in the 20th century and urged to build more permanent dwelling, but with limited results, as

5170-466: The deepest seas in the world, and no large islands such as Java or Sumatra . Flora and fauna immigration between islands is thus restricted, leading to a high rate of endemic biota evolving. The ecology of the Maluku Islands has fascinated naturalists for centuries; Alfred Wallace 's book, The Malay Archipelago , was the first significant study of the area's natural history and remains an important resource for studying Indonesian biodiversity. Maluku

5280-400: The early 2020s, most of the population was concentrated in the coastal areas, and comprised the following major groups: indigenous Buru (33,000 people), Lisela (13,000), Ambelau (6,000) and Kayeli people (800); migrants from Java, and migrants from other Maluku Islands. The migration to Buru was stimulated by the Dutch colonial administration in the 1900s, and by Indonesian authorities in

5390-442: The end of the 16th century concluded an agreement with Ternate on the joint development of Ambalau, but little came of this arrangement. Ambalau fell into the zone of influence of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) by the middle of the 17th century. It is known that in the 1660s the island was often raided by pirates from Papua , who captured islanders for sale into slavery. It was their systematic attacks on Ambalau that prompted

5500-522: The entire Dutch East Indies , including Buru, were occupied by the Japanese army. During this period, the island was raided by the bombers of the Allies aiming to incapacitate the Japanese military infrastructure, in particular the airport at Namlea , the major town of Buru. After the capitulation of Japan on 2 September 1945, control over the island fell back to the Netherlands. In December 1946, Buru, along with

5610-460: The head of a mercenary band of Portuguese seamen under the service of one of the two local feuding sultans who controlled most of the spice trade. Both Serrão and Ferdinand Magellan , however, perished before they could meet one another. The Portuguese first landed in Ambon in 1513, but it only became the new centre for their activities in Maluku following the expulsion from Ternate. European power in

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5720-535: The hierarchy among the indigenous people with selected loyal rajas placed above the heads of the local clans. The island was occupied by the Japanese forces between 1942 and 1945 and in 1950 became part of independent Indonesia. During former president Suharto 's New Order administration in the 1960s–1970s, Buru was the site of a prison used to hold thousands of political prisoners. While held at Buru, writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer wrote most of his novels, including Buru Quartet . Buru island lies between two seas of

5830-572: The hinterlands and more isolated islands. Archaeological evidence here relies largely on the occurrence of pigs' teeth, as evidence of pork eating or abstinence therefrom. Remnants of Majapahit expeditions were also found in oral as well as archaeological sites. A story from Letvuan on Kai Kecil island, tells of a Balinese envoy of Gajah Mada by the name of Kasdev, his wife Dit Ratngil, and eight of their children. Archaeological sites of ancient tombs found in Sorbay Bay south of Letvuan seemed to support

5940-604: The interior people of the islands Seram and Buru . Later added to this Austronesian-Melanesian mix were some Indian and Arab strain. More recent arrivals include Bugis trader settlers from Sulawesi and Javanese transmigrants . Over 130 languages were once spoken across the islands; however, many have now switched to the creoles of Ternate and Ambonese , the lingua franca of northern and southern Maluku, respectively. The Maluku Islands are divided into two provinces : Maluku and North Maluku . Cloves and nutmeg are still cultivated, as are cocoa, coffee and fruit. Fishing

6050-622: The island (23.10%) is taken by shrubs, and only 5.83% is open land, which is spread over most districts of Buru. The island belongs to the Indonesian province of Maluku ( Indonesian : Propinsi Maluku ). Until 1999, it was part of the Central Maluku Regency ( Indonesian : Kabupaten Maluku Tengah ) and then became a separate regency of the same name. In 2008, it was split into Buru Regency ( Indonesian : Kabupaten Buru ) and South Buru Regency ( Indonesian : Kabupaten Buru Selatan ). Buru Regency has an area of 7,595.58 km and

6160-404: The island and were afraid that the Makassar might return after their departure. They returned after several years and raised a fortress armed with four cannon and staffed by 24 soldiers in 1658 at the southern coast of Kayeli Bay, in the eastern part of Buru. A permanent settlement was established at the fortress, which became the administrative center of the island. About 2,000 native inhabitants of

6270-507: The island are diverse and are similar to that of Buru. There are abundant coral reefs off the coast of Ambelau. The island belongs to the Indonesian province of Maluku. Until 1999 the island belonged to the Central Maluku Regency ( Indonesian : Kabupaten Maluku Tengah ), then to the Buru Regency ( Indonesian : Kabupaten Buru ), in which it was isolated into a separate administrative district ( Kecamatan Ambalau ). In 2008, when

6380-442: The island were forcibly relocated to this area from other parts of the island, including much of the tribal nobility, and about thirteen large villages were built around the fort: Lumaite, Hukumina, Palamata, Tomahu, Masarete, Waisama, Marulat, Leliali, Tagalisa, Ilat, Kayeli, Bara and Lisela. The relocation was designed to facilitate control over the local population and provide a workforce for clove fields which were being planted by

6490-410: The island. In particularly, they requested donations from each clan of Buru, which could be rice, millet, coconuts, sago, sweet potatoes and tobacco, as well as supplying men to work exclusively for the Kayeli rajas. The Dutch East India Company was abolished in the early 19th century, and all its possessions in the Malay archipelago came under the direct control of the Dutch crown . In 1824, as part of

6600-484: The largest towns of the island, served by Namlea Airport and Namrole Airport respectively. About a third of the population is indigenous, mostly Buru , but also Lisela , Ambelau and Kayeli people . The rest of population are immigrants from Java and nearby Maluku Islands. Religious affiliation is evenly split between Christianity and Sunni Islam , with some remnants of traditional beliefs. While local languages and dialects are spoken within individual communities,

6710-490: The last 500 years and earthquakes are common. The geology of the Maluku Islands shares much similar history, characteristics, and processes with the neighbouring Nusa Tenggara region. There is a long history of geological study of these regions since Indonesian colonial times ; however, the geological formation and progression are not fully understood, and theories of the island's geological evolution have changed extensively in recent decades. The Maluku Islands comprise some of

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6820-421: The last district is entirely located on the island of Ambalau. As of the 2010 Census, the population of the islands administered as Buru was 161,828 people; at the 2020 Census this had risen to 210,648 with about 64.2% in the northern regency and 35.8% in the southern; the official population estimate at-mid 2022 was 215,277. The southern regency included the smaller island of Ambalau to the southeast of Buru. In

6930-460: The late 1970s, a number of transmigrants from Java arrived at Buru. These transmigrants, along with the political prisoners, established thousands of hectares of rice fields on the island and built irrigation systems in the Waeapo River alluvial plain, significantly increasing local rice production and making it the largest rice producer in the Maluku Islands . Economic development of the island

7040-400: The leaders of Leliali, Wae Sama and Fogi clans moved significant parts of their ethnic groups to their original settlements; they were joined in the early 1900s by Tagalisa. By then, many other of the original 13 Kayeli villages were either abandoned or had lost their rajas. By about 1910, the leading role of the Kayeli clan had almost disappeared. From the spring of 1942 to the summer of 1945,

7150-472: The list of lands subordinate to Majapahit under the name Hutan Kadali. In the 16th–17th centuries Buru was claimed by the rulers of Ternate island and by the Portuguese; both claims were, however, symbolic, as neither party controlled the island, but only visited it on trade matters. More active were Makassar people from Sulawesi island, who had built fortifications on Buru and forced the natives to grow valuable spices, such as clove . The rivalry between

7260-486: The local lexicon. Some local dialects, such as the Hukumina and Kayeli , became extinct in the second half of the 20th century. Religious composition of the population is heterogeneous: the number of islanders practising Sunni Islam (90%) and Christianity (10%) and the rest – mainly residents of remote mountain areas – still follow traditional local cults or do not have a clear religious affiliation. . The economical crisis of

7370-424: The locals continued to relocate. This was partly due to the habits of relocation and partly due to local disputes or superstitions, such as cursing a place where a certain number of people died within a short period. Presence of a church in a village might hinder relocation for a century, but not always. Traditional Buru costumes are similar those of most other Indonesia peoples. Men wear sarong (a kind of kilt ) and

7480-456: The markets of the town Namlea . In the pre-colonial period the island was densely populated by the indigenous Ambelau people . In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the Sultanate of Ternate declared its sovereignty over the island; however, this had little more than symbolic meaning as the island never came under its direct control. The Portuguese adventurers who entered the archipelago at

7590-407: The medical system of the island was in a poor state due to underfunding and lack of qualified medical personnel. There were 2 hospitals and 16 clinics, 5 of which were first-aid clinics and 11 were serving non-emergency patients who could arrive there on their own. The medical staff consisted of 22 doctors (two with the medical degree), 65 obstetricians and 303 nurses. The authorities plan to increase

7700-419: The military airfield at Namlea (runway 750 meters) is used for air transportation. Aircraft CASA C-212 Aviocar make 96 passenger flights a year between Namlea and several towns of Maluku. In 2007, construction began of a civil airport near the villages of Suva and Namrole , about 30 km south-west of Namlea. In absence of railways, most local transportation occurs via the roads. In 2008, their total length

7810-542: The most developed, Ambon and Ternate , are small. The majority of the islands are forested and mountainous. The Tanimbar Islands are dry and hilly, while the Aru Islands are flat and swampy. Mount Binaiya (3,027 m; 9,931 ft) on Seram is the highest mountain. Several islands, such as Ternate (1,721 m; 5,646 ft) and the TNS islands, are volcanoes emerging from the sea with villages sited around their coasts. There have been over 70 serious volcanic eruptions in

7920-711: The most geologically complex and active regions in the world, resulting from their position at the meeting point of four geological plates and two continental blocks. Biogeographically , all of the islands apart from the Aru group lie in Wallacea , the region between the Sunda Shelf (part of the Asia block), and the Arafura Shelf (part of the Australian block). More specifically, they lie between Weber's Line and Lydekker's Line and thus have

8030-694: The mouth; the coastal length of the bay is about 50 km. At the northern part of the mouth stands Namlea , the largest town of the island. The highest point on the island (2,700 m (8,900 ft)) is the peak of Mount Kapalatmada (also called Kepala Madan, Kepalat Mada or Ghegan). Off the coast of Buru there are several smaller islands; those permanently inhabited are Ambalau (the largest, about 10 km in diameter, located about 20 km south-east of Buru) and Tengah ( Indonesian : Pulau Tengah ). The largest uninhabited islands are Fogi ( Indonesian : Pulau Fogi ), Oki ( Indonesian : Pulau Oki ) and Tomahu ( Indonesian : Pulau Tomahu ). The island

8140-496: The name of Kapitan Ading Adang Anaan Tanahatuila. The meeting was facilitated by Malessy Soa Lisa Maitimu; however, it failed to reach an agreement. As Sutarmi failed, she decided to stay in exile while her retinues settled and married locals of Ema, and her spear bearer settled on the coast but was killed later by Gunung Maut troops. Archaeological finds relating to this expedition include a water source with Sun symbols with nine rays, and heirlooms of spears and Totobuang kept by

8250-402: The national Indonesian language and use it in public or in communication with other tribes. By religion, most Ambalau residents are Sunni Muslims , with a small part of Christians and with some remnants of traditional local beliefs. Agriculture dominates the local economy. Cultivation of rice – the most common crop of the region – is hindered on Ambelau by the hilly terrain and abundance of

8360-402: The national Indonesian language is used among the communities and by the administration. Most of the island is covered with forests rich in tropical flora and fauna. From the present 179 bird and 25 mammal species, about 14 are found either on Buru only or also on a few nearby islands, the most notable being the wild pig Buru babirusa . There is little industry on the island, and most population

8470-491: The newcomers were welcomed in the area as buyers of supplies and spices during a lull in the regional trade due to the temporary disruption of Javanese and Malay sailings to the area following the 1511 conflict in Malacca. The spice trade soon revived but the Portuguese would not be able to fully monopolize or disrupt this trade. Allying himself with Ternate's ruler, Serrão constructed a fortress on that tiny island and served as

8580-697: The northern side of the island has been cut and burned out for timber and creating new farming fields, but two large areas of stable rain forest still exist in the mountains. These are currently protected areas, Gunung Kapalat Mada (1,380 km) and Waeapo (50 km). Most of the published studies on the history, culture and languages of the island were conducted in the 1980s out by spouses Charles E. Grimes and Barbara Dix Grimes – Australian missionaries and ethnographers and active members of SIL International (they should not be confused with Joseph E. Grimes and Barbara F. Grimes, Charles' parents, also known Australian ethnographers). They have also completed translation of

8690-435: The number of medical facilities and staff by 2–4 times by 2012. Whereas local people traditionally occupied villages, variation of their seasonal activities – predominantly hunting and farming – tended to either disperse or gather them. Men hunted the wild pig Buru babirusa , deer and possum , in the forests, mostly during the peak of east monsoon (June and July); meanwhile women were gathering wild vegetables. However, during

8800-501: The official estimate as at mid 2023 was 9,225. The administrative center is Wailua, a settlement located at the south of the island. About half of the island's population is composed of indigenous Ambelau people who speak the Ambelau language ; the other half are mostly immigrants from the nearby Maluku Islands and Java . The island is located in the Banda Sea at the southern entrance to

8910-633: The other Maluku Islands, Sulawesi and Lesser Sunda Islands , was included in a quasi-independent State of East Indonesia ( Indonesian : Negara Indonesia Timur ) which was established by the Dutch government to gradually transform their former colonial possessions in the East Indies into a dependent state. In December 1949, eastern Indonesia joined the Republic of the United States of Indonesia ( Indonesian : Republik Indonesia Serikat RIS) established at

9020-572: The past to refer to Halmahera island), all of which have their kolano (a local title for kings rooted in Panji tales ). It is unclear what the meaning of Moloko or Moloku is. One possible meaning is in Ternate language , it meant "to hold or grasp", in which case Moloko Kie Raha could be understood to mean " Confederation of the Four Mountains ". Another possibility is that the word originates from

9130-533: The population are indigenous Ambelau people , and another half are immigrants from other Maluku Islands belonging to Sulawesi (mainly Bugis ) and Javanese ethnicities. The latter moved to the island mainly through the large-scale transmigration programs supported by both the Dutch colonial administration in the 1900s and the Indonesian authorities in the 1950s–1990s. The individual ethnic groups speak different languages and dialects in everyday life, for example Ambelau language . However, most adults have knowledge of

9240-435: The prisoners was a prominent Indonesian writer, Pramoedya Ananta Toer , who spent 14 years (1965–1979) in prison, mostly on Buru, and wrote there many of his novels. Those included a large part of Buru Quartet , in particular its first part This Earth of Mankind . Until 1975, Toer was deprived of writing tools. He committed his novels to memory and was reciting them to his cellmates, partly relying on their memory. During

9350-407: The reform of the colonial administration, Buru was divided into 14 regencies (this number was gradually reduced to seven over the next 100 years). They were headed by the local rulers, rajas , who were subordinate to the Dutch advisors. All rajas were selected from the Kayeli tribal nobles, who had by this time proved their loyalty to the Dutch. The demise of Kayeli dominance began in the 1880s, when

9460-463: The region was weak and Ternate became an expanding, fiercely Islamic, and anti-European state; the Portuguese-Ternate wars raged throughout the reigns of Sultan Baab Ullah (r. 1570–1583) and his son Sultan Saidi Berkat (r. 1583–1606). Following Portuguese missionary work, there have been large Christian communities in eastern Indonesia through to contemporary times, which has contributed to

9570-402: The relatively small size of the island, its mountainous terrain results in several climatic zones. Apart from temperature reduction with altitude, the temperature variations across these zones are negligible, with the annual average of about 26 °C, However the annual precipitation differs and amounts to 1,400–1,800 mm in the north, 1,800–2,000 mm in the center, 2,000–2,500 mm in

9680-429: The religious service on Sunday. It was also rather common to move the entire village after some 20 years of exploiting a plot of land. Partly because of this, most settlements were rather small, with the smallest type accommodating one-two families ( hum-hawa or hum-tapa ), middle-type ( hum-lolin ) consisting of 3–10 houses and accommodating 20–50 people, and larger ones of 30–50 houses and 150–300 people ( fen-lale ). On

9790-453: The resources of the small islands of Maluku are limited and specialised; furthermore, human resources, in particular, are limited. General observations about small islands that can be applied to the Maluku Islands include: Central and southern Maluku Islands experience the dry monsoon between October and March and the wet monsoon from May to August, which is the reverse of the rest of Indonesia. The dry monsoon's average maximum temperature

9900-478: The river names; thus Apo is often referred to as Waeapo or Wae Apo, or Apu in some local dialects. In the center of the island, at an altitude of 767 metres (2,516 ft), lies freshwater Lake Rana ( Indonesian : Danau Rana ). This is the only significant lake on Buru; it has a nearly rectangular shape with the length of about 4.3 km, width of about 2.7 km and an area of 11.5 km (4.4 sq mi) The crust consists of several types of deposits. It

10010-484: The route to the Banda Islands and other 'Spice Islands', and sent an exploratory expedition of three vessels under the command of António de Abreu , Simão Afonso Bisigudo, and Francisco Serrão . On the return trip, Serrão was shipwrecked at Hitu island (northern Ambon ) in 1512. There he established ties with the local ruler who was impressed with his martial skills. The rulers of the competing island states of Ternate and Tidore also sought Portuguese assistance and

10120-1238: The rufous-throated white-eye is regarded as endangered and the black-lored parrot and vulnerable (threatened) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ; both species were observed only in very limited areas of Buru island. There are another 19 birds that are near-endemic to Buru: rufous-necked sparrowhawk ( Accipiter erythrauchen ), dusky megapode ( Megapodius forstenii ), Moluccan megapode ( Megapodius wallacei ), white-eyed imperial pigeon ( Ducula perspicillata ), long-tailed mountain pigeon ( Gymnophaps mada ), red lory ( Eos bornea ), Moluccan hawk-owl ( Ninox squamipila ), Moluccan masked owl ( Tyto sororcula ), Wakolo myzomela ( Myzomela wakoloensis ), Buru friarbird ( Philemon moluccensis ), drab whistler ( Pachycephala griseonota ), white-naped monarch ( Monarcha pileatus ), dark-grey flycatcher ( Myiagra galeata ), black-eared oriole ( Oriolus bouroensis ), pale cicadabird ( Coracina ceramensis ), Buru thrush ( Zoothera dumasi ), cinnamon-chested flycatcher ( Ficedula buruensis ), Buru bush warbler ( Locustella disturbans ) and Buru flowerpecker ( Dicaeum erythrothorax ). Among butterflies, 25% of

10230-576: The second syllable of the island name. As a result, Western sources refer to it as Ambelau, whereas modern Indonesian sources spell the name as Ambalau, particularly in official documents and on the official website of the Buru and South Buru regencies. The majority of Ambalau's population (6,846 at the 2010 census, rising to 9,225 as at mid 2023) resides on the coastal plains, in the settlements of Kampung Baru (969), Lumoy (1,209), Masawoy (750), Selasi (606), Siwar (890), Ulima (970) and Elara (1,452). About half of

10340-401: The south and 3,000–4,000 mm in the mountains, at elevation above 500 m. As Buru is located at the boundary between the biogeographic zones of Australia and Asia, its flora and fauna are unique and are the subject of national and international scientific research. Of 25 species of mammals found on the island, at least four are endemic to Buru and closest to it islands. The local species of

10450-473: The story as well as some cultural practices of Kei of Balinese origin. Other archaeological finds in Kei islands include Shiva statue from Kei Besar island. Another oral story was of 14th century Majapahit expedition to Negeri Ema, Ambon Island , by an envoy named Nyi Mas Kenang Eko Sutarmi alongside 22 of her retinues, and a spear bearer trying to form an alliance and trading relationship with Negeri Ema's leader by

10560-410: The strait Manipa, about 20 km south-east of the larger island of Buru . It has a relatively smooth oval shape with a minor extension in the south-eastern part and the maximum diameter of about 10 km. The island is of volcanic origin, and is composed of Cenozoic sedimentary rocks. The relief is mostly mountainous, with the highest points at 608 m (Mt. Baula) and 559 m (Mt. Nona) in

10670-408: The west monsoon (November to April) both men and women were working together in the fields. The position of the villages was also changing with time, mostly because of the low soil fertility on the island – recovery of the soil took significant time urging long-distance travel to the new fields. It was rather common for a family to leave the village for most of the week to their field and return only for

10780-524: The western area. The island rises vertically from the sea, and flat parts are found only on the southern and eastern coasts. Much of the territory, especially in mountainous areas, is covered with wet tropical forests. The island is located in a seismically active zone with frequent earthquakes; two significant recent earthquakes occurred in August 2006 and January 2016 when eight people were hurt and about 120 houses were damaged in two villages. Flora and fauna of

10890-448: The wild pig Buru babirusa damaging the crops (which is rarely hunted because of the Muslim traditions). The small terrains of fertile land on the coast are used to grow maize , sago sweet potato , cocoa , coconut , allspice and nutmeg . Tuna fishing is practiced by the villages of Masawoy and Ulimo. Some agricultural and fish products are exported to the nearby Buru islands, mainly on

11000-582: The wild pig named Buru babirusa ( Babyrousa babyrussa ) is distinguished from the other Babyrousa species by having relatively long and thick body-hair. It also has very low fat content in their meat (only 1.27% compared to 5–15% for domestic pigs) and is regarded as a delicacy among the local population, which favours it to other wild pigs or deer in terms of texture and flavour. Also endemic to Buru are three types of bats : Moluccan flying fox ( Pteropus chrysoproctus ), Ceram fruit bat Pteropus ocularis and lesser tube-nosed bat ( Nyctimene minutus ). Of

11110-518: The word maloko , which is a combination of the particle ma- and the root loko in North Halmahera languages means the variety of words relating to the location of mountains, in which case "Maloko Kie Raha" in the phrase "Ternate se Tidore, Moti se Mara Maloko Kie Raha " means "Ternate, Tidore, Moti, and Mara the place of the four mountains " or with the shifting of pronunciation of loko towards luku , means "Ternate, Tidore, Moti, and Mara

11220-448: The world of the four mountains ". Australo-Melanesians were the first people to inhabit the islands at least 40,000 years ago, and then a later migration of Austronesian speakers around 2000 BC. Other archaeological finds showed possible Arab merchants began to arrive in the fourteenth century, bringing Islam . The conversion to Islam occurred in many islands, especially in the centres of trade, while aboriginal animism persisted in

11330-639: The year (for 2008) in just Buru Regency . Most rice fields are located on the northern coasts of the island, in the districts of Namlea, Waeapo and Air Buaya. With the total area of 135 hectares, maize dominates the southern field of districts Waisama, Kepalamadan and Namrole, yielding 176 tonnes per year (as of 2008). Other crops of the southern part are sweet potato (211 hectares, 636 tonnes), beans (926 hectares, 946 tonnes ) and soybeans (965 hectares, 965 tonnes). Coco (5,724 ha, 2,742 tonnes), cocoa (4,453 ha, 2,368 tonnes), clove (947 ha, 881 tonnes) and coffee (114 acres (46 ha), 1223 tonnes) are grown in

11440-422: Was 1,310 km, of which 278 km was covered with asphalt , 282 km with gravel and the rest were laid in soil. The construction project of a modern, 287-kilometre-long (178 mi) highway across the island, connecting its two major towns of Namlea and Namrole and several other towns is delayed due to underfunding. There is a regular long-distance bus service supported by a park of 18 units. As of 2007,

11550-470: Was 1,848,923 and that of North Maluku Province was 1,282,937. Hence the total population of the Maluku Islands as a region in 2020 was 3,131,860. A long history of trade and seafaring has resulted in a high degree of mixed ancestry in Malukans. Austronesian peoples added to the native Melanesian population around 2000 BCE. Melanesian features are strongest in the islands of Kei and Aru and amongst

11660-567: Was assigned to the zone of occupation of the Japanese 2nd Fleet . The occupation formally ended in August 1945; however, the newly proclaimed Republic of Indonesia was unable to establish its power in such a remote region, and in early 1946 the Netherlands regained control of Ambalau without resistance. A few months later, Ambalau, along with all the Moluccas, Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands,

11770-605: Was declared and attempted to secede, led by Chris Soumokil (former Supreme Prosecutor of the Eastern Indonesia state) and supported by the Moluccan members of the Netherlands KNIL special troops. This movement was defeated by the Indonesian army and by special agreement with the Netherlands the Moluccan troops were ordered to move to the Netherlands. . Decades later, descendants of these Moluccan KNIL soldiers participated in

11880-493: Was depressed in the late 1990s as a result of the national and regional crisis. The growth resumed in the early 2000s, however, unemployment remains high (9.92% of the population in 2008), and more than 37% of islanders are living below the national poverty line (as of 2008). The basis of the island's economy is agriculture which contributed 51.22% to the GDP in 2008. The major crop is rice with plantations taking an area of more than 5,700 hectares and yielding about 23,000 tonnes per

11990-576: Was included in the Governorate of Ambon , whose leader was based in Ambon and who reported directly to the Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies . The island did not receive significant attention in the later stage of Dutch colonization either. After the capture of the Netherlands East Indies by Japan during World War II in 1942, Ambalau, together with the rest of the Moluccas,

12100-448: Was included in the quasi-independent State of East Indonesia . In December 1949. The decision to incorporate East Indonesia into the Republic of Indonesia in April 1950 was opposed by many inhabitants, leading to the proclamation of the Republic of South Moluccas , which included Ambalau. The succession was crushed by the Indonesian military by the end of 1950 and Ambalau was proclaimed part of

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