Penjara Tua Kema

What an outstanding view, one of the best of north minahasa region iconic places

Not a good place for me

Nice

Good

The Old Kema Prison which is located in Kema II Village, Kema District, North Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province is a legacy of the Portuguese people which was built in 1585. The prison was established as a place to detain people who opposed the Portuguese in the context of the spice trade. .nnThe old prison is located approximately 500 meters from the beach. Once upon a time, the area around the prison was a port or airport and visited by many traders from Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese and Dutch.nnThe old kema prison itself was once part of a large defensive fort that was built overlooking the sea by the Portuguese to prevent Spanish expansion.nnLocal community leader Ismet Jailani said that at that time, there was competition between the Spanish and the Portuguese so that the fort was built.nnUnfortunately the fort had been destroyed due to the bombing carried out by the Dutch, leaving only the old prison which was located behind the fort so it was not destroyed. The remains of the former fortress are still there but have been closed off by residential areas.nnWhen it was taken over by the Dutch, the prison was the last prisoner place before being executed, who were held here were political figures and rebels. Imam Bonjol, a fighter in the Paderi War with 10 of his followers, was once detained here before being taken to Pineleng.nnKyai Modjo had also been in this prison before being exiled to Tondano. KH Arsyad Thawil, the main figure of the 1888 Cilegon Geger war was also detained here. During the Japanese colonial era, many Dutch people were thrown in old prisons by the Japanese and then killed.nnThe mystical aura in this old kema prison is also felt by the local people. Some heard the sound of people screaming in pain like being hit, there were also the sounds of monkeys. Even residents have seen a large snake come out of prison.nnThe Old Kema Prison is located between residential areas. To get to the site of the Old Kema Prison, you have to pass the alley between the houses of the residents. The shape resembles a warehouse with a length of 10 meters, a width of 7.50 meters and a wall height of 4 meters or 7.25 meters to the end of the roof.nnThe room consists of 3 booths and has its own door. Each of the prison booths measures 4 × 4 meters, some are 2.5 × 4 meters and some are 3.5 × 10 meters, while the corridor in the middle measures 3 × 4 meters.nnOne of the prison doors is still original wood since the prison was first built, while the other two wooden doors have been replaced. The walls inside and outside the prison have been chipped. This prison has been renovated twice but has not changed its original form.nnThis place has now become a tourist attraction, which is visited by many tourists. Many foreign and local tourists who are amazed by this prison, they can linger even though there is only empty space.