The West Kalimantan unrest, its roots and solution<\/p>\n
By R. Masri Sareb Putra<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The incident of Sanggau Ledo in West Kalimantan
\nis unique and therefore a source of interest to many observers.<\/p>\n
Different from the Situbondo, Tasikmalaya and Rengasdengklok
\nriots, the Sanggau Ledo unrest, which started at the end of 1996
\nand continued into February of this year, is extremely difficult
\nto analyze and is giving investigators a hard time. What spawned
\nthe unrest?<\/p>\n
If we understood the background and history leading to the
\nincident, we may find it possible to endeavor an explanation.<\/p>\n
The conflict actually stemmed from excesses in development.
\nThe past decade saw an increase in the local population's gross
\ndomestic product from Rp 3.2 million in 1986 to Rp 4.6 million in
\n1991 based on constant prices in 1983. The other side of the coin
\nwas that poverty struck certain places. The result was the
\nemergence of social envy.<\/p>\n
In the past two decades, ethnic conflicts occurred eight times
\nin the province. The reasons for the conflicts were very slight.
\nUnrest broke out because one ethnic group felt offended. The
\nincidents were not immediately settled and therefore were allowed
\nto grow into open conflict.<\/p>\n
The unrest in Sanggau Ledo was triggered in such a way. It
\nstarted with a Madurese making a crude remark to a Dayak woman.
\nThis triggered anger between the two ethnic groups and resulted
\nin the stabbing of two Dayaks.<\/p>\n
Security forces should also be held responsible for the
\nmassive unrest because they did not immediately settle the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
When the Sanggau Ledo incident grew into clashes of
\nconsiderable proportions, the authorities realized too late that
\nthey had made a fatal error. They belittled the people and hurt
\ntheir feelings. The price of this was high. They should pick the
\nfruit from this valuable lesson.<\/p>\n
Army Chief Gen. Hartono has often said implicitly that the
\nWest Kalimantan conflict was never unrest sparked by ethnic
\ngroups (Dayak and Madura). It was caused by many things, the
\nsolution for which should involve many ministries and many
\nparties.<\/p>\n
What does this mean? Should the settlement of the case involve
\nthe ministries of transmigration, forestry, communications,
\nsocial affairs and religious affairs, the National Development
\nPlanning Board, the House of Representatives, NGOs and local
\nsocial figures?<\/p>\n
Social problems became a crucial issue at the time West
\nKalimantan was opened to outsiders in 1991, when a legal entry
\npoint was built in Entekong which connected Pontianak and Kuching
\nby land. Consequently cultural clashes among many ethnic groups
\ncould not be avoided and the indigenous population underwent
\ncultural shock.<\/p>\n
The vast Kalimantan forests contain enormous wealth which
\nattracts investors and entrepreneurs to obtain exploitation
\nrights. With a territory surface of 146,700 square kilometers,
\nWest Kalimantan possesses 6.39 percent of Indonesia's forest
\narea.<\/p>\n
In the past five years felling of trees in West Kalimantan has
\nreached disproportionate dimensions. Mutual expropriation of land
\nis common fare among exploitation rights holders, thereby making
\nvictims of the local population. While the outsiders feverishly
\nfelled trees, the local people were branded as thieves when they
\ncut down just one tree for household use. Is this not a portrait
\nof injustice?<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Religious Affairs can join local religious
\nleaders (clergymen and kyai) in building a common awareness among
\nlocal inhabitants in saying that Pancasila is the only principle
\nand tool for unity. Attitudes of tolerance, restraint in showing
\noff wealth, refraining from proselytizing people who belong to
\nanother religions, are things which strongly need to be developed
\nin this equatorial region.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Mines and Energy also needs to join in the
\nsearch for a solution to the West Kalimantan unrest, because in
\nfact what opened the door ever wider for the incidents in West
\nKalimantan is the offense and anger felt by the local population.
\nThey did not get sufficient compensation for their land in the
\nvicinity of the Monterado gold mining project. Not many people
\nknow that a protest took place in early 1996, launched by local
\nlandowners and workers of the Monterado gold mines, who took the
\nlaw into their own hands against the foreign company managing the
\ngold mines.<\/p>\n
If only all sides managing the central gold mines in Sanggau
\nLedo learned from history, the uprising need not have taken
\nplace. History shows that the Ledo mines have always harbored
\nconflict. From the Dutch Indies colonial times the locality has
\nbeen a place of contention and sowed the seeds for mass fights.
\nFrom that time on the place has been a \"gold center\" and until
\nthe early days of independence there were still many trading
\ngroups which eventually perished as a result of fighting.<\/p>\n
No less important is the part played by the transmigration
\nministry. The Dayak community of West Kalimantan residing in
\nGreater Jakarta stated on Feb. 14, 1997 that transmigration
\nshould be managed more wisely. The lack of judgment in placing
\ntransmigrants, as has been the case so far, is admittedly one of
\nthe causes of unrest in West Kalimantan. The local inhabitants
\nfeel their existence is threatened by transmigrants, they feel
\nmarginalized by land ownership and the facilities obtained by the
\nnewcomers.<\/p>\n
Compared to other outbreaks, the unrest in West Kalimantan
\ndemanded the highest number of victims, both in lives and
\nproperty. From the aspect of time, the conflict lasted so long
\nthat it nearly paralyzed the local economy.<\/p>\n
Fortunately there are encouraging signs of peace attempts by
\nvarious sides, especially by the contending two ethnic groups.
\nThe consequences of the unrest are still being felt. If the
\nproblems are not handled in an integrated and professional way,
\ndisaster will certainly strike the province. Now the supply of
\nthe nine essential food commodities from outside Kalimantan and
\nfrom abroad like Sarawak and Malaysia are scarce. Prices have
\nautomatically rocketed.<\/p>\n
It is fortunate that many sides have tried to mediate in
\nsolving the conflict between the two ethnic groups. This is good
\nso long as it is all done in the context of justice. But the
\nright thing to do would be for the two disputing ethnic groups to
\narrive at a solution themselves.<\/p>\n
The potential for conflict may be found everywhere, but we
\nwere surprised the West Kalimantan incident became so worrisome.
\nIt is really hard to explain.<\/p>\n
The most precious lesson to be derived from the incident is
\nthat in development the local community should not be made
\nlookers-on.<\/p>\n
R. Masri Sareb Putra is an observer of ethnological and
\nsociocultural matters. He hails from West Kalimantan and now
\nlives in Jakarta.<\/p>",
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