Damai Laborona – a small village in Buton Utara Regency, in the southeastern part of Celebes
Damai Laborona is an Indonesian village located in the southeastern part of the Celebes (Sulawesi) island. Administratively, it belongs to Bonegunu District (Kecamatan Bonegunu), which forms part of Buton Utara Regency (Kabupaten Buton Utara). The regency is part of Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Celebes) Province, whose capital is Kendari. Based on the settlement's coordinates (approximately -4.94° southern latitude and 122.98° eastern longitude), the area lies close to the tropical equatorial zone, in the island archipelago between the Banda Sea and the Flores Sea.
General overview
Damai Laborona does not appear independently in broader available Indonesian encyclopedic sources, suggesting it is a small rural settlement. The village, contained within Kecamatan Bonegunu, forms part of Kabupaten Buton Utara, which itself is a relatively young administrative unit within Sulawesi Tenggara Province. Regarding the province as a whole, its land area is 38,140 km², and in the first half of 2025, the total population of the province approached 2.85 million – these are, however, provincial data and do not directly reflect the size or population of Damai Laborona. The region's economic life is characteristically based on agriculture, fishing, and small-scale local commerce, as observed in other villages of Buton Utara Regency as well. Rural settlements in the southeastern part of Celebes generally possess strong community traditions and natural environments, though specific characteristics of Damai Laborona cannot be stated precisely due to lack of sources.
Real estate and investment
Independent real estate market data for Damai Laborona is not available. In a broader context, it can be said that Sulawesi Tenggara Province as a whole has undergone gradual development over recent decades, primarily due to mining (nickel and other mineral resources) and infrastructure development. However, in rural villages within Kabupaten Buton Utara – such as Damai Laborona likely is – the real estate market is less liquid and less developed than in the province's larger urban centers. Based on general Indonesian land ownership regulations, foreign citizens cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) over property in Indonesia; for them, long-term lease constructions (Hak Sewa, Hak Pakai) typically apply. This regulatory framework is valid across the entire country, thus also applying to Buton Utara Regency. In rural areas, property prices are typically lower than in urbanized areas, but investment potential is greatly influenced by infrastructure development, accessibility, and local demand.
Safety and security
Specific settlement-level data on public safety in Damai Laborona is not available. Regarding Sulawesi Tenggara Province as a whole, based on available general information, rural areas can generally be characterized by relatively calm public security situations, though this may vary from province to province and region to region. There is no known particularly high level of conflict or regularly reported security problems in Kabupaten Buton Utara; however, travelers and residents should always inquire with local authorities and consider relevant official travel advisories. Generally speaking, in Indonesian rural communities, local social control and traditional community norms play important roles in maintaining social order, though no certain conclusions can be made about their specific impact in Damai Laborona due to lack of sources.
Tourist attractions
Named source data is not available regarding direct tourist attractions in Damai Laborona. The Kabupaten Buton Utara region as a whole, however, possesses noteworthy natural geographic characteristics: the coastlines, coral reefs, and natural island landscapes surrounding the southeastern parts of Celebes attract numerous visitors to Sulawesi Tenggara Province. The coastal and marine natural resources found within the regency's territory carry the characteristics of the Banda Sea region and offer opportunities for those interested in diving, fishing, and nature hiking – though the specific locations and exact distances from Damai Laborona cannot be provided due to lack of sources. Regarding the province's cultural heritage, Sulawesi Tenggara is known for the traditions of the Bajo sea nomads and local cultural diversity, which characterize the region as a whole.
Summary
Damai Laborona is a small rural settlement in Indonesia, in the southeastern part of Celebes, within Kecamatan Bonegunu, forming part of Kabupaten Buton Utara, in Sulawesi Tenggara Province. Independent, verified source data about the village remain limited for now, so most characteristics can only be reliably described at the level of broader administrative units – the regency and the province. The province has nearly 2.85 million inhabitants, possesses extensive land and sea territories, and is one of the most diverse regions of Celebes due to its natural characteristics. Damai Laborona fits into the broader category of Indonesian rural villages, where local life is based on natural resources and community traditions.
