An investigation published this week by Agence France-Presse (AFP) has renewed international attention on hereditary servitude that rights advocates say still persists in parts of East Sumba, despite slavery having been outlawed in Indonesia for more than 160 years.

For millions of travellers, Indonesia’s eastern islands are better known for spectacular landscapes, rich traditions and untouched beaches. Yet the investigation paints a very different picture from parts of East Sumba, where some people are still born into the traditional ata caste, inheriting a social status that can tie them to generations of unpaid service under long-standing customary traditions.

Living With an Inherited Status

One of those interviewed was Kanisius Kanyali Hambarita, a young man from East Sumba who said he has accepted the role he was born into.

“I don’t mind. This is simply the reality. It isn’t a burden for us. It’s a symbol of the tradition passed down by our ancestors,” he said.

His employer, Umbu Ana Rara, described Kanisius as part of the family. The two reportedly live under the same traditional roof, while Kanisius is allowed to earn additional income as a motorcycle taxi driver and cultivate crops of his own.

Yet not every experience is the same.

Another man from East Sumba, now in his forties, recalled years of physical abuse while serving his master’s household. He said he was beaten and punished whenever he was considered not to have worked hard enough, whether tending fields, feeding livestock or cooking for the family. Today, he says his greatest wish is that his children will never inherit the same status.

A Centuries-Old Social Hierarchy

According to human rights advocates cited in the investigation, the hereditary system is rooted in a social hierarchy associated with the indigenous Marapu belief system.

The structure broadly distinguishes between Maramba (nobility), Kabihu (commoners) and Ata, historically regarded as a servant class or, in some cases, slaves. Although Christianity is now the dominant religion across Sumba, elements of Marapu customs continue to influence parts of the island’s social structure.

How many people remain affected is unclear. Estimates cited in the investigation range from around 1,700 to several thousand people in East Sumba, which has a population of about 350,000.

Human Rights Concerns

The investigation also highlights concerns over the vulnerability of women born into the ata caste.

Former National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) chair Andy Yentriyani said that, under certain customary beliefs, female servants may be viewed as the property of their masters, leaving them vulnerable to sexual exploitation and making it difficult to seek justice.

The investigation also revisited a 2024 case in Waingapu involving an 18-year-old woman who accused her employer and the employer’s son of repeatedly sexually abusing her over several years. According to the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), the investigation remained unresolved as of this year.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both called on Indonesia to strengthen enforcement of constitutional protections prohibiting slavery and to provide effective legal protection for victims.

Government Urges Gradual Change

Former East Sumba Regent Gidion Mbilijora acknowledged that changing deeply rooted traditions would take time, saying attitudes shaped over generations cannot be transformed overnight.

Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra also stressed that Indonesia’s Constitution clearly prohibits slavery. However, he said lasting change should come through education and gradual social transformation rather than coercion.

“The government does not want to force change abruptly. We believe education will change everything,” Yusril said.

The investigation has renewed debate over how Indonesia should address traditions that conflict with constitutional protections while respecting the country’s cultural diversity. Government officials, human rights organisations and local communities continue to hold differing views on how such change should take place.