Traditional Male Circumcision in West Timor, Indonesia

Abstract

A complete description of harmful practices of male circumcision of both Atoni Meto and Belunese in Timor is presented, based on my research, Plan Indonesia, and Indonesia HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project (AusAID), funded by the Ford Foundation. After my first research on Traditional Circumcision of Atoni Meto in 1997, I worked with Plan Indonesia to campaign a healthy circumcision program in 33 Atoni Meto villages. In 1999 and 2004, I did research on traditional circumcision of Belunese people, also in Timor. Based on the result of my research, from 1995 up to the present, I am working with IHPCP (AusAID), promoting healthy circumcision and sexual health to the people of 101 villages in Belu Regency on the border of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste.

The majority of people in West Timor, Indonesia, are the native, Atoni Pah Meto, hence referred to as Atoni. The number residing in the region is 803,394 or 61% of the population (2002). These indigenous people are Christian (both Catholic and Protestant) with low education, and depend upon dry land agriculture. Up to present, the Atoni Meto has extensively practiced the traditional circumcision heritage from their ancestors.