The head of the village/Kades in Magelang has been missing since December 2025. No one knows where he is now. The Kades who is on duty in Desa Sambeng, Rowiyanto, has not reported to the regency office for months. His fate will be decided in June 2026. Under law number 6/2014, a Kades is a democratically elected official; therefore, he or she cannot be impeached without following the law. Since the law mentions that a Kades can only be impeached after six months, the final verdict will be issued this month or 6 months after his disappearance.
“This is not the First Time This Kades in Magelang Disappeared”
Based on the record, Rowiyanto used to disappear like now. People then found him in Lamongan, Jawa Timur. He walked 100 kilometres from Desa Sambeng. When he was interviewed, he said he received a message from a spiritual entity telling him to walk over 100 kilometres to save Indonesia. No follow-up actions or policies were taken after the first incident. Nonetheless, the second case has sparked public concern, as no clues have yet been found about Rowiyanto’s fate.
Another theory mentions that Rowiyanto has shown his reluctance to accept the mining projects in Desa Sambeng, which may be connected to his disappearance. Magelang itself is famous for its mining potential, valued at billions of U.S. Dollars. Nonetheless, as has happened at other mining sites, conflicts between locals and investors are rare and have attracted local media and other non-governmental environmental organisations. However, it’s fair to say that several villages face similar conflicts, and none of the head villages has disappeared. Considering his history, the first theory that he was somehow inspired by some spiritual order would be more sound.
Why People Become a Vagabond Out of the Sudden?
There is a consensus that psychological trauma has triggered people to wander around and even leave their community or home. Notwithstanding, this habit might stem from our ancient instinct to move away from the crowd to find quiet places or peace. Actually, people with relatively healthy minds will do the same; however, they have limitations and can do so without causing social chaos. Yet, for some, they cannot control themselves, and their disappearance would become public knowledge, leaving their community in panic.
The Kades in Magelang’s case are not the first or last when someone goes missing. Famous author Agatha Christie disappeared in 1926 and triggered a nationwide search party. The famous author was found, but no one ever explained why she had gone off and left only her car. To this day, it remains a mystery, just as her novels do.
The next question is, will the people who are missing be back eventually? Apparently, if there is no crime involved, people will go back to their communities since they are looking for time for themselves, not escaping from the community that is actually they need to fulfil their daily needs. Nonetheless, when people are lost, sometimes they do not remember how to go back. Yet, instinctively, they will go to public spaces to be found.
Therefore, if the Kades in Magelang disappeared due to his coping mechanism, he will eventually be found again, though his official position will be revoked. Yet, to be clear, since he has not been found for almost 5 months, the possibility that he will be found is diminishing each day. The police are surely working hard to find him; meanwhile, the regency will shift its focus to ensuring public services in Desa Sambeng run as normally as possible.
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