East Javanese rule Jimbaran's waves

East Javanese rule Jimbaran's waves

JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): Javanese is widely spoken here. The
dialect can be heard everywhere and Javanese faces are seen all
along Kedonganan beach.

According to American anthropologist Fred Eisemann, who has
spent decades in Jimbaran, the fishing activities around
Kedonganan beach is dominated by East Javanese migrants.

East Javanese fishermen came to Kedonganan more than 30 years
ago and now dominate the fishing industry here. Some of them
operate their own vessels and others work for wealthy Balinese
boat owners, Eisemann said.

"Almost all of the boats here are operated by Javanese
fishermen. Even the fish vendors on the beach, in the surrounding
neighborhoods and in the fish market are predominantly East
Javanese," he said.

Eisemann said that the role of East Javanese in Kedonganan's
fishing activities increased after they started using jukung
vessels in the early 1980s.

"The Javanese fishermen, and some Bugis people, have since
controlled the fishing activities in Kedonganan," he said.

Balinese fishermen now do other work. Many of them work in
seafood restaurants along Jimbaran beach. With the many hotels in
the area, many Balinese also have jobs in the fields of tourism
and hospitality, as they do all around Bali, he said.

Some local fishermen may feel overwhelmed by the increasing
roles of Javanese fishermen. With bigger vessels, Javanese
fishermen can go further out to sea and fish for longer periods
of time, thereby catching more fish than the Balinese can with
their smaller vessels.

Local fishermen, especially those living along Jimbaran beach,
cannot afford to buy bigger vessels. Smaller vessels, called
perahu, cost at least Rp 600,000 (US$200) while jukung are at
least Rp 1 million each.

A Balinese, Nyoman Suriasta, said he had never heard of any
local being jealous of Javanese migrants.

"I never heard of anything like that. As far I know, the East
Javanese fishermen have been playing big roles in the fishing
industry, including in Kedonganan, for a long time and none of us
(Balinese) have ever held it against them," Nyoman said.

"Fishing is basically not our way of life. We work the land,
we are farmers. That's why I say Balinese never feel as though
the Javanese came and took away our opportunity to have a better
life," said Nyoman. (cst)