Political Communication Activities in the Kapuunan Institution of Baduy Indigenous Community

10.2478/bjlp-2023-00000153

Abstract

Since ancient times, the Sundanese people have had their government system called Tri Tangtu Di Buana, consisting of Prebu, Rama, and Resi. The three institutions have power in their respective fields. Tri Tangtu Di Buana is still manifesting in a kapuunan (government) institution for the Baduy indigenous people called Tangtu Telu. Tangtu Telu represents the three kapuunan that govern the life of the Baduy indigenous community, which are Puun Ponggawa (Prebu) in Cibeo, Puun Rama in Cikeusik, and Puun Resi in Cikartawana. Under these three institutions, several positions function as assistants and mouthpieces to the Baduy community or to deal with outside parties (government), namely puun, jaro tangtu, pangiwa, and jaro pamaréntah; and the leader of each village, which is the kokolot lembur. The inherent power in each of these institutions and positions certainly opens up opportunities for political communication activities. This study aimed to determine the activities of political communication in the kapuunan (government) institution of Baduy. This study uses qualitative research, precisely the phenomenological method, with data collection methods in interviews and observations. The results show that the political communication activities that occur in appointing/electing puun, jaro tangtu, jaro pamaréntah and kokolot lembur are implemented to grant power and positions in various communication contexts, which are interpersonal and group communication with top-down and bottom-up communication styles.