The Usage of Noken as an Alternative of the Ballot Box Replacement in the Middle Papua Mountain Area

Abstract

Noken is a tool of culture of Papuan that is more than just a tool or a means. It is more than that, as it has a philosophical meaning that sticks firmly within the people of Papua especially those who stays in the middle mountains area. The usage of this tool, specifically as a replacement for the ballot box is a form of appreciation towards the cultural value and local wisdom of the people. Historically, the usage of Noken in an election is a spontaneous reaction of the people in a “bakar batu” party and it is still not clear who proposed the idea and when does it actually starts. From the legal aspect, this has not been regulated yet by the statutory provision, however the only legal basis that can be used as an official reference is the Desicion Number of Indonesian Supreme Court Number 47-48/PHPU.A-VII/2009 about the result of a legislative election of Yakuhimo district and the Desicion Number 1/PHPU.PRES-XII/2014about the Presidential and Vice-Presidential election in 2014. With the usage of this Noken, the role of the tribal chief is very central in terms of accommodating and distributing the rights to vote of the people. That is why; the thing that needs to be controlled and supervised is the utilization of the tribal chief by the elite politician in gaining or ruling the voting in an election.

Keywords: Noken, Alternative for the ballot box replacement.