pasung - punished by the gods

Bali is a tropical vacation paradise, but there is a dark side just a few tourists get to see.

Bali is a tropical vacation paradise, but there is a dark side just a few tourists get to see. People with mental illness are chained by their family members, they are often tied up or locked up in shocking living conditions.

Around 20 million people in Indonesia have a mental illness. Help get only a few. Because mental illnesses are still associated with evil, the sick are chained by their relatives in the forest or locked in cages.

The 4 million inhabitants of Bali with approximately 7,000 patients are estimated to only a handful of available psychiatrists . Overall, less than five percent of the mentally ill are treated in Indonesia.

Traditionally, many Indonesians believe that evil in the head can be expelled by a healer. They have no money for treatment and often there is no way to treat their members professionally.

There are people chained endure decades. The Indonesian Ministry of Health estimates that there are currently around 30 000 people with a mental illness in Indonesia locked away.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
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Indonesien, Nord-Bali, 18. April 2013 - Ketut is sitting on a bamboo lounger at the edge of the village, he sits there for 19 years. Previously Ketut was a construction worker once, he left his hut in the morning, in the evening he returned. A big man with strong hands, he brought money, he fed the family. Sometimes, his nephew remembers, Ketut took the children from the village to the waterfall, where they jumped from the rocks. “Ketut was the cleverest of all,” said the nephew. “I wanted to be like him.” Then Ketut was crazy. Nobody knows how it happened, Ketut appeared one night with a knife in the hand at the hut of his brother. Maybe he wanted to kill him. From that day on Ketut began to rage, and thus would not stop. The villagers were afraid. One night, they overpowered him, and put a chain around his foot. since then they have not dared to loosen this chain. Now they pass by Ketut every day . They give him enough to eat and drink water so he can wash himself and when he asks often enough, they throw him out of cigarettes.There are children in the village who have never seen Ketut differently . The villagers say, it grieves them. They worry about it, they have given up on him anyway. Ketut has a dull glance. On his bunk is blood of his anus because he has hemorrhoids.He tugs at his hair. On many days, his thinking is clear. Ketut says he does not know why his relatives chained him. He was a few times in psychiatry in Bangli, it has not helped him. If the employees want to pick him up once every few years, he rears up, trying to beat them. Ketut says: “I have nothing more to wish for my life.”He knows that the family will chained him again to he returns from the hospital . He is similar to the broken cart, standing near his camp. The sight disturbs people though if they pass it, but they do not know how to fix it.At least he is in good physical condition. “He was lucky,” says Suryani.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
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Indonesia, Bali, Singaraja 16. April 2013 - Komang, 26 years old is chained by her family in a hut in the jungle near Singaraja for 8 years. The family says Komang could not handle her divorce. She strayed aimlessly and naked through the village, as the family decidided to put her in chains. The only support that families receive from the state for their mentally ill family members, is a concrete shack which is built to lock away the “possessed”.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, Bali, Singaraja 16. April 2013 - Komang, 26 years old is chained by her family in a hut in the jungle near Singaraja for 8 years. The family says Komang could not handle her divorce. She strayed aimlessly and naked through the village, as the family decidided to put her in chains. The only support that families receive from the state for their mentally ill family members, is a concrete shack which is built to lock away the “possessed”.

© Christian Werner - Indonesien, Nord-Bali, 18. April 2013 - A dark, moldy shack in which a mentally ill over 18 years was chained to the bed.
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Indonesien, Nord-Bali, 18. April 2013 - A dark, moldy shack in which a mentally ill over 18 years was chained to the bed.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesien, Nord-Bali, 18. April 2013 - Ketut is sitting on a bamboo lounger at the edge of the village, he sits there for 19 years. Previously Ketut was a construction worker once, he left his hut in the morning, in the evening he returned. A big man with strong hands, he brought money, he fed the family. Sometimes, his nephew remembers, Ketut took the children from the village to the waterfall, where they jumped from the rocks. “Ketut was the cleverest of all,” said the nephew. “I wanted to be like him.” Then Ketut was crazy. Nobody knows how it happened, Ketut appeared one night with a knife in the hand at the hut of his brother. Maybe he wanted to kill him. From that day on Ketut began to rage, and thus would not stop. The villagers were afraid. One night, they overpowered him, and put a chain around his foot. since then they have not dared to loosen this chain. Now they pass by Ketut every day . They give him enough to eat and drink water so he can wash himself and when he asks often enough, they throw him out of cigarettes.There are children in the village who have never seen Ketut differently . The villagers say, it grieves them. They worry about it, they have given up on him anyway. Ketut has a dull glance. On his bunk is blood of his anus because he has hemorrhoids.He tugs at his hair. On many days, his thinking is clear. Ketut says he does not know why his relatives chained him. He was a few times in psychiatry in Bangli, it has not helped him. If the employees want to pick him up once every few years, he rears up, trying to beat them. Ketut says: “I have nothing more to wish for my life.”He knows that the family will chained him again to he returns from the hospital . He is similar to the broken cart, standing near his camp. The sight disturbs people though if they pass it, but they do not know how to fix it.At least he is in good physical condition. “He was lucky,” says Suryani.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, Bali, Bangli 19. April 2013 - Psychiatry in Bangli has up to 600 patients. Connected Cabin in small or confined in the state mental - these are the alternatives. After all, 400 patients are not chained in psychiatry. Spates least two months after they are released.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
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Indonesia, Bali, Singaraja, 16. April 2013 - Kadek, 42, for years she stopped to talk. She has spent more than half her life in a room without windows. Kadek lies on a cot. Her family believes she is possessed by demons. The family refuses that Kadek gets treated with Western medicine. So far They have visited 57 ritual healer, but nothing worked. Because Kadek does not earn any money, she is a thorn in the side of the family so that they poorly take care of her and let her die.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, Bali, Singaraja 16. April 2013 - Komang, 26 years old is chained by her family in a hut in the jungle near Singaraja for 8 years. The family says Komang could not handle her divorce. She strayed aimlessly and naked through the village, as the family decidided to put her in chains. The only support that families receive from the state for their mentally ill family members, is a concrete shack which is built to lock away the “possessed”. One time in a month her broher walks Komang like a dog.

© Christian Werner - The mother of a mentally ill person in Singaraja.
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The mother of a mentally ill person in Singaraja.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, North-Bali, 18. April 2013 -In a small temple in the jungle in the north of Bali living a traditional healer. His patients come with their families and were cleaned by him in a ceremony. With holy water and rice, the demons are expelled and the mind is purified. Spirituality plays a big role in everyday life in Bali.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, Bali, Singaraja, 16. April 2013 - Kadek, 42, for years she stopped to talk. She has spent more than half her life in a room without windows. Kadek lies on a cot. Her family believes she is possessed by demons. The family refuses that Kadek gets treated with Western medicine. So far They have visited 57 ritual healer, but nothing worked. Because Kadek does not earn any money, she is a thorn in the side of the family so that they poorly take care of her and let her die.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, North-Bali, 18. April 2013 -In a small temple in the jungle in the north of Bali living a traditional healer. His patients come with their families and were cleaned by him in a ceremony. With holy water and rice, the demons are expelled and the mind is purified. Spirituality plays a big role in everyday life in Bali.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, Bali, Singaraja 16. April 2013 - Komang, 26 years old is chained by her family in a hut in the jungle near Singaraja for 8 years. The family says Komang could not handle her divorce. She strayed aimlessly and naked through the village, as the family decidided to put her in chains. The only support that families receive from the state for their mentally ill family members, is a concrete shack which is built to lock away the “possessed”. The last time she got wased was two month ago.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, Bali, Singaraja, 16. April 2013 -A schizophrenic man squatting on the edge of the jungle near Singaraja in North Bali. He was often aggressive and attacked the villagers, so he is chained.

© Christian Werner - Image from the pasung - punished by the gods photography project
i

Indonesia, Bali, Singaraja 16. April 2013 - Komang, 26 years old is chained by her family in a hut in the jungle near Singaraja for 8 years. The family says Komang could not handle her divorce. She strayed aimlessly and naked through the village, as the family decidided to put her in chains. The only support that families receive from the state for their mentally ill family members, is a concrete shack which is built to lock away the “possessed”.

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