HISTORICAL BACKGROUD

The historical background of Wajo Regency has a very long coherency with the old Kingdom of Wajo, which is known to be very unique and consistent in their democratic principles. The ruling principle of the “Old Wajo” Kingdom during the mid centuries was based upon the power of the “Arumpanua” which was not practiced by any other kingdom that day. The principle of arumpanua is based upon the nation that the ruler and the people together were regarded as the power holder and the kingdom’s owner, which were subject to the customary laws of the land. The people regarded the rules as the servant of the people. Their master was not the ruler but the Ade Assituruseng or the customary through descendant but elected by an “Lembaga Adat”.

The most popular democratic principle of the Old Wajo Kingdom is now engraved permanently at the coat of arms of the Wajo Regency as: “MARADEKA TO WAJOE ADENA NAPOPUANG” which literally meant the Wajo people are fully having their freedom, and only the rules of their traditional laws are regarded as their master.

The establishment of Wajo as a regency was officially inaugurated in 1957 in accordance with the State Law No. 4/1957, having the privilege of an autonomous territory like the early established regencies in Indonesia.

During the early stage of its establishment until 1963’s, the area development process of Wajo was hampered by the instability of security affairs due to the rebellion of DI/TII Movements. And only two year later, a communist rebellion in Indonesia has brought the country into a very difficult situation, including Wajo Regency as a new founded local government administration.

The implementation of an intensive development in Wajo could only be initiated earlier in 1969’s parallel to the national “Five Years Development Plan (REPELITA)” of the central government since than, the area development process covering all sector in the Wajo Regency has been intensified to advance the intellectual life of the population in the region, and to contribute toward the country’s prosperity based on freedom, peace and social justice.