A neglected old mosque

A neglected old mosque

Your trip to Togean Islands would not be complete unless you set foot on Una-Una, an island formerly known as Ringgit (meaning a gold coin).

Tahmidy Lasahido (47), a community figure on this island, said that the island used to be called Ringgit because in this part of the country Una-Una was the richest island.

Una-Una is home to millions of coconut palms, the fruit of which are exported to Malaysia. In the 1960s, transactions on this island used Malaysian currency, the ringgit, and not Indonesian currency. It is said that it was Malaysians who first called this island Una-Una. Locals say that Una in Malaysian means a coconut. Indeed, millions of coconut palms grow on this island.

In 1918, Una-Una island was the seat of the Una-Una Kingdom with Abdurrahman Laudjeng Dg Materru as King. Evidence of the kingdom is clearly seen from the royal graves located right behind the Jami Mosque, which was built in 1924.

The mosque is made of ulin wood from Borneo. The architectural style of the mosque blends European, Chinese and Arabian styles. The ceramic floor tiles came from France while the dome, which is in the shape of a rimless cap or a headdress worn by Teuku Umar, is now the dome of the Teuku Umar Mosque in Banda Aceh. The Jami Una-Una Mosque is still in good repair.

Unfortunately, the rich Ringgit island and its prosperous inhabitants are now history. They are just stories passed down from one generation to another.

In 1983, Colo, a volcano on the island, erupted, spewing red- hot lava, rocks and ash and devastating houses and property. There was a mass exodus and many were reluctant to return. They resettled elsewhere, simply leaving behind their remaining belongings on the island.

Only about 100 people returned to the island. Their lives have changed dramatically. They are backward and lead a poor life amidst millions of coconut palms and vast marine riches. --JP