Kalimantan Set to Become the World's Focus on 20 May, Here's Why

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that the government fully supports efforts to preserve culture and strengthen the historical narrative of indigenous communities, particularly regarding Tumbang Anoi as an important event in the history of Dayak tribal peace. “As the government, we strongly support various efforts that can advance national culture, including strengthening the historical narrative like Tumbang Anoi. Strengthening the customary legal values of Tumbang Anoi can also be collaborated with the Ministry of Law,” said Fadli in a written statement confirmed from Jakarta on Wednesday. For the proposals for activities submitted by the Indigenous Community Elements (Emas Dayak), Fadli mentioned that they could involve the Central Kalimantan Cultural Preservation Agency so that it can run more effectively and measurably. Chairman of Emas Dayak, Mandeh, expressed concern over the decreasing application of customary law in Kalimantan and emphasised that Tumbang Anoi is an important milestone in customary peace that has great value, even recognised at the international level. He hopes the government can pay more attention to encouraging the re-enforcement of customary law that was formulated and ratified in 1894. However, the implementation of the agreed customary law is deemed no longer running as it should. For that reason, he along with Emas Dayak conveyed plans to hold a series of cultural activities as an effort to revive the values of Tumbang Anoi while reaffirming its position as valid and obeyed customary law by the community. “We hope that the customary law compiled by our grandfathers, Damang Batu along with the tribal representatives at that time, can be re-enforced and not set aside. We hope to receive support from the government, especially the Ministry of Culture,” he said. Meanwhile, the mentor and advisor of Emas Dayak, H.R.M. Soekarna, emphasised the importance of government support in re-enforcing Tumbang Anoi customary law. He also hopes that the history of that event can be introduced more widely to the public as part of public education. Emas Dayak plans to hold a cultural procession linked to the momentum of National Awakening Day on 20 May 2026. The procession will unfurl a 118-metre red and white flag, involve various community elements, and be enlivened with Dayak and Nusantara traditional performances. Behind the plans for the procession and strengthening of the historical narrative, Tumbang Anoi is actually not just a past event, but a knot of collective memory that still pulses in the life of the Dayak community to this day. It is a space of encounter—between conflict and reconciliation, between tradition and new awareness of living together.