Riau tribe stays true to the sea<\/p>\n
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam<\/p>\n
Muhammad Din was busy fixing his fishing net in the kitchen of
\nhis modest wooden house on Air Mas island, Nongsa district in
\nBatam, Riau Islands province.<\/p>\n
No furniture was seen in the house of the 61-year-old chief of
\nthe Orang Suku Laut tribespeople apart from a kerosene stove and
\nsome plates lying on the floor.<\/p>\n
Din and 23 other families from the tribe are now living on
\nland, in the Air Mas Suku Laut settlement, initiated by two non-
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs) the names of which have escaped
\nDin's memory.<\/p>\n
The only access to the remote Air Mas island is by chartered
\nboat, costing Rp 75,000 (US$7.50) for a single trip which only
\ntakes about 30 minutes to reach.<\/p>\n
Din said the settlement started when the NGOs offered the
\nOrang Laut assistance in the form of homes on land. They have
\nlived nomadic lives on wooden boats together with their families
\n-- sleeping, cooking, bathing, and even giving birth on board,
\nfrom the time of their forefathers.<\/p>\n
The village where they now live is divided into two sections,
\none consisting of four Muslim families and the other for
\nChristian families. The communal bathrooms are also separated.<\/p>\n
Din estimates there are about 100 inhabitants in the village
\nbut does not know the reason behind the division.<\/p>\n
Both communities, he said, have lived side by side, sharing
\nwhat they have, including water for their bathrooms when the
\nwells run dry.<\/p>\n
\"Many from the Christian faith are my younger siblings and
\nrelatives. They still ask for my advice since they consider me
\ntheir elder. Life's the same here, except for the difference in
\nfaiths. We're still brothers and sisters,\" Din told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
The tribespeople -- who can only be found around Riau Islands,
\nliving among the chain of islands in the country's youngest
\nprovince while those still living on boats, which could reach
\nthousands -- depend on the weather and wind direction in their
\ndaily activities.<\/p>\n
During the northerly winds, which usually occur in November
\nand ends in March, when the wind is strong and waves are high,
\nthe Orang Laut will tie up their boats ashore.<\/p>\n
The southerly winds from April until October, is the time when
\nthey set sail around Riau Islands, sometimes until the South
\nChina Sea, searching for fish which they barter for various basic
\nnecessities, like rice, instant noodles and cigarettes. Others
\nbarter their catch for television sets.<\/p>\n
For the Orang Laut, life on the sea is just like living on
\nland.<\/p>\n
For example, when they are holding a wedding ceremony, the
\nhost will tie his boat to his neighbors' boats so that they will
\nbe fastened together making ample space for dining together and
\ngreeting guests.<\/p>\n
If a Muslim couple is to be married, a Muslim cleric will be
\nfetched to perform the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Likewise when giving birth, they will bring in the midwife
\nbefore the expected day. Everything runs smoothly, just like
\nliving on land.<\/p>\n
\"Many of our relatives are still sailing the seas on their
\nboats. Perhaps they choose not to live on land,\" said Din, who
\nhas 14 children.<\/p>\n
Din himself had lived at sea since he was born until 2002, the
\ntime when he took the offer to settle on land.<\/p>\n
\"Those of the Muslim faith will be assisted by a Muslim-based
\nNGO, while those of the Christian faith by a Christian-based one.
\nThe NGOs have helped us in obtaining houses and cash assistance
\nfor our children's school fees,\" said Din.<\/p>\n
The man can only afford to put three of his 14 children, aged
\nbetween six years and 13 years old, to school, while the eldest
\none is already married.<\/p>\n
He recalled that the early stages of living on land were the
\nhardest because he was used to living at sea. Once, he returned
\nto his boat with his family after staying on land for only two
\nweeks, but his children already felt at ease living on land.<\/p>\n
\"They kept screaming when a huge waves hit our boat. The
\nyoungest one insisted that we return to the house on land. They
\nno longer liked staying on the boat,\" Din recalled.<\/p>\n
Since then, Din decided to live on land, as were the other
\nfamilies in Air Mas village, where most of them earn a living
\nas fishermen.<\/p>\n
However, Din confessed that their traditions have gradually
\nchanged after moving on land as the people have become somewhat
\nmaterialistic in nature due to the frequent visits by social
\nagencies and constant publicity by the media.<\/p>\n
Village children and youths would ask for money from strangers
\nvisiting the village. They are not ashamed to mention the amount
\nthey want even from a short conversation with the visitors.<\/p>\n
\"It's a tradition for children and youths, and even old folks
\nto ask for money from strangers because we're poor,\" said Din.<\/p>",
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