Ethnic fighting in Batam<\/p>\n
Last week's ethnic fighting in Batam brought business on the
\nisland to a standstill for three days. Regrettably, ethnic
\nfighting on this island is nothing new. Last week's was simply
\nthe worst. Although everything is now back to normal, the
\nconditions that allowed it to occur have not yet been remedied
\nand something similar could happen again.<\/p>\n
Batam is suffering the consequences of its own success. It is
\nthe fastest growing area in Indonesia and one of the fastest
\ngrowing places in Asia. From about 6,000 in early 1970s, the
\npopulation today is about half a million and increasing daily.
\nHundred of multinational companies have created an extremely
\nbuoyant labor market. The island is therefore a magnet for young
\nIndonesians from across the archipelago to come and try their
\nluck. A proverbial "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow". Young
\nwomen who come here, easily find employment in the hundreds of
\nelectronic factories that employ tens of thousands of girls. But
\nthe island's economy can absorb only a few of the many unskilled
\nmales who seek work.<\/p>\n
It is from these jobless young men that the most of Batam's
\nsocial troubles arise. Thousands of youths are surviving on the
\nisland's economic fringe: as garbage scavengers, taxi touts (the
\nsource of last week's trouble), ojek (motorcycle taxis) drivers,
\nparking touts, drug pushers, noodle vendors etc. Fierce
\ncompetition for limited opportunities causes fights, which
\noccasionally spread from individuals to entire ethnic groups. As
\na proportion of Batam's population, this group only comprises a
\nfew percent: maybe 3 percent to 4 percent. But 3 percent of half
\na million people is still a lot, numbering some tens of
\nthousands. But 99 percent of Batam's population has suffered
\ngreat inconvenience, due to the actions of 1 percent.<\/p>\n
At present, if a hopeful young man journeys far across
\nIndonesia to try his luck in Batam there is no social system to
\nhelp him get home should his luck run out. Far from home and
\nfriends, circumstances virtually force these unfortunates to turn
\nto crime.<\/p>\n
The police generally know who these unlucky people are, but
\nthey are yet to acquire a tool to help them. Batam need a ship
\nwhich can carry the luckless few back to their home islands. This
\nship should operate in partnership with a detention center, where
\nthose without jobs and money can be cared for and fed, until
\ntransport becomes available. The scheme could be financed by
\nimposing a Rp 10,000 levy on everyone arriving by ferry or
\naircraft.<\/p>\n
With a regular flow of messengers returning home, Batam may
\nsucceed in relaying the news that if you have no skills, life on
\nthis island can be very difficult indeed.<\/p>\n
EVAN JONES<\/p>\n
Batam, Riau<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ethnic-fighting-in-batam-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }