by Pastor M. Selumena - Edited by G.

1. Parallel with Manusela and it’s History

Major religions enter Selumena in 1910. According to tradition Selumena village are level with Manusela. But since the Dutch colonial past dijaman, the Selumena didn’t have the human resources (people which been trained / or educated / go to school) then the Dutch government finally handed over the responsibility to govern to the Manusela village (so in the end, Selumena is under the Manusela’s administration) The Manusela kampong (village), which located in the Manusela mountain has six sub-villages (anak dusun), they are as follows.:
1. Maraina (Population ± 200 people or ± 50 families)
2. Selumena (Population ± 70 people or ± 13 families)
3. Matuwolo (Population ± 40 people or ± 8 families)
4. Elemata (Population ± 180 people or ± 40 families)
5. Solea (Population ± 150 people or ± 35 families)
6. Milinani (Population ± 300 people or ± 80 families)

In Dutch’s era Selumana people credited in the development of the official Dutch’s path/trail that connects the villages in the Manusela mountains.

In the Japanese period (1940-ies) and in the war of independence’s era, there was no activity recorded at Selumena, but at the days of the colonial rebellion of the RMS, many refugees (ordinary people) from the south Seram+ sought shelter in the Manusela mountains, among others in Selumena (± 20 families for years, up until the South Seram become secure again from the rebel RMS1). So Selumena is credited again for the difficult period in the 1950-ies. Once in the 1980-ies a helicopter (probably from the UK’s Operation Releigh Expedition) landed to Selumena, and brought some cement and materials (roof 'tin' or SENG), this is for making floor and roof of the Town Hall. At that time named the head of the Selumena village named: Yunus (Jonah) Falate, the Selumena community welcomed the initiative. Then in 1999 until 2006, came a lot of refugees from the villages in the South Seram (Telutih), such as: Lafa, Yamahena, because they we’re attacked by the army of jihad (Laskar Jihad). In 2006, they (the refugees) then returned to their respective villages.

2. Work for living
a) Sago farmer (Pukul Sagu)
b) Hunting with dogs, dodeso, arrows etc..
(Berburu menggunakan anjing, dodeso, panah dll.)
c) Farming (bakabong / bertani)
d) Tourist guide, or for travelers who are interested
to climb Mount Binaya and Mount Murkele
(Penunjuk jalan bagi turis/wisatawan yang
tertarik naik ke Gunung Binaya dan Gunung Murkele).

3. EDUCATION
There is only one elementary school and that is about 14 kilometers from Selumena. So the elementary school (SD) is located in another village, -the village of Maraina. The children had to walk 3 hours to the school, so many families then leave their children stay in Maraina. There is no single junior high school (SMP) in these area (Manusela mountains).

4. REQUEST
Based on the above facts/issues we would like to ask the followings:
a. To build the building of the Church (since now it is only from sago’s wood etc.)
b. Assurance for the education system, especially with the situation of our primary (elementary) school teachers is limited (Maraina), we ask additional teachers. This is because up until now there is only one teacher and two honorarium teacher, with the number of students of about 60 (elementary school) children.
c. We ask to construc the junior high school (SMP) building that can serve children in Manusela region (including Selumena village), so that parents do not need to send their children to junior high school (SMP) at Wahai city.
d. Health Insurance and the presence of more regular and constant doctors.
e. The presence of TV networks in the mountains for the development of informations and tools for us to unite with other people in Indonesia.

God bless you, the leaders or people who read this information and our hummble request,
Greetings and Regards

Ambon, 20 October 2008
Pastor of Selumena Church: Rev. M. Selumena