Ethnic fighting in Batam

Ethnic fighting in Batam

Last week's ethnic fighting in Batam brought business on the
island to a standstill for three days. Regrettably, ethnic
fighting on this island is nothing new. Last week's was simply
the worst. Although everything is now back to normal, the
conditions that allowed it to occur have not yet been remedied
and something similar could happen again.

Batam is suffering the consequences of its own success. It is
the fastest growing area in Indonesia and one of the fastest
growing places in Asia. From about 6,000 in early 1970s, the
population today is about half a million and increasing daily.
Hundred of multinational companies have created an extremely
buoyant labor market. The island is therefore a magnet for young
Indonesians from across the archipelago to come and try their
luck. A proverbial "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow". Young
women who come here, easily find employment in the hundreds of
electronic factories that employ tens of thousands of girls. But
the island's economy can absorb only a few of the many unskilled
males who seek work.

It is from these jobless young men that the most of Batam's
social troubles arise. Thousands of youths are surviving on the
island's economic fringe: as garbage scavengers, taxi touts (the
source of last week's trouble), ojek (motorcycle taxis) drivers,
parking touts, drug pushers, noodle vendors etc. Fierce
competition for limited opportunities causes fights, which
occasionally spread from individuals to entire ethnic groups. As
a proportion of Batam's population, this group only comprises a
few percent: maybe 3 percent to 4 percent. But 3 percent of half
a million people is still a lot, numbering some tens of
thousands. But 99 percent of Batam's population has suffered
great inconvenience, due to the actions of 1 percent.

At present, if a hopeful young man journeys far across
Indonesia to try his luck in Batam there is no social system to
help him get home should his luck run out. Far from home and
friends, circumstances virtually force these unfortunates to turn
to crime.

The police generally know who these unlucky people are, but
they are yet to acquire a tool to help them. Batam need a ship
which can carry the luckless few back to their home islands. This
ship should operate in partnership with a detention center, where
those without jobs and money can be cared for and fed, until
transport becomes available. The scheme could be financed by
imposing a Rp 10,000 levy on everyone arriving by ferry or
aircraft.

With a regular flow of messengers returning home, Batam may
succeed in relaying the news that if you have no skills, life on
this island can be very difficult indeed.

EVAN JONES

Batam, Riau