Healing old wound of mass violence: the resurgence of local tradition as reconciliation efforts in East Nusa Tenggara

Late 1965 marked the beginning of anti-communist purge in Indonesia, resulting in millions of people killed, arrested, tortured, exiled, marginalised, and stigmatised. It becomes the beginning of the New Order era under Soeharto, known for its vast development of the country. Notwithstanding the economic growth, human rights violation and mass violence continuously happened. Even during the post-authoritarian Indonesia, the chain of silence has not ended. A half-decade later, people with lived experience of the tragedy are still living in trauma, with most of the victims and perpetrators forced to live side-by-side. Despite the suppression to address the issue, the indigenous people of Sikka in East Nusa Tenggara commenced a customary ritual called Gren to enforce a healthy relationship that once damaged. By framing the ritual of Gren as an alternative paradigm for reconciliation, this research explores the narrative of ecological reflexivity behind the peaceful initiatives. Through in-depth interview and interpretative analysis of symbols, components, and narratives on how the indigenous people perceived Gren, this research surf into the collective healing and its exteriorisation process. It then allows to shed light on how Gren gives a holistic set of understanding on prolonging peace that involves a nexus of human-human and human-nature relationship.