"On the remembrance of Smong or Tsunami Day, all fishermen on Simeulue Island will not go to sea. Every December 26 is designated as a day of abstinence from going to sea," Panglima Laot Lhok Air Pinang Juhardi Marlin remarked in Simeulue, Thursday.
According to Marlin, the prohibition on going to sea on every Smong or Tsunami Day observance on December 26 is a joint agreement of the Panglima Laot in Simeulue District.
"Every December 26 is a day of abstinence from going to sea for fishermen agreed upon and signed jointly by the Panglima Laot throughout Simeulue District. We urge fishermen to respect the agreement," he remarked.
He emphasized that if fishermen violate the agreement, the Panglima Laot in the fishing area can take action under the local customary maritime law.
The annual Smong or Tsunami Day serves as a time for communal reflection and contemplation on the two-decade journey since the disaster that struck in late 2004.
"Let us make the momentum of the remembrance of Smong or Tsunami Day a joint contemplation of the terrible disaster that befell Aceh 20 years ago. Let us obey this joint agreement not to go to sea every December 26," he affirmed.
Simeulue District is the outermost island region in Aceh. Simeulue Island is located in the Indian Ocean, about 180 nautical miles from the west coast of Sumatra Island.
Simeulue District was established in 1999 and has 10 sub-districts with 138 villages inhabited by around 96 thousand people.
The island has local wisdom in mitigating tsunami disasters known as smong.
Since the early 1900s, after large waves struck the island region in the Indian Ocean, the local term "smong" -- meaning giant waves -- has been passed down through successive generations.
The local wisdom of smong saved the people of Simeulue Island from the tsunami disaster on December 26, 2004, where the death toll during the disaster was less than 10 people.
Simeulue Island is close to the epicenter of the earthquake followed by the tsunami 20 years ago.
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Translator: M Haris Setiady Agus, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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