Kubu tribe marginalized on their own soil

Jon Afrizal, Jambi

About 1,300 people from the Kubu tribe living in Bukit Duabelas National Park, Jambi, are being marginalized as a result of serious damage to the protected forest.

The need to earn a living has forced some members of the tribe to participate in illegal logging, which has contributed greatly to rapid deforestation in the park.

"They work as guides, porters or loggers. Those experiencing the harshest conditions in the park are forced to become involved in illegal logging," Environmental Information Group (Warsi) activist Robert Aritonang told The Jakarta Post recently.

Chronic poverty among members of the Kubu tribe has changed their habits. They are also referred to as the Anak Dalam tribe, and were known previously for respecting the environment.

"For a long time, the Kubu tribe was known for its habit of respecting trees in the forest. They consider trees to be the home of the Gods," he said.

Robert said, however, continuous forest destruction due to illegal logging had marginalized the Kubu tribe. Illegal logging had depleted natural resources in the forests, including animals and plants that used to be a food source for tribe members.

Logging has also opened up the forests, forcing tribe members to mingle with strangers from the town and with suburban people, who brought with them modern lifestyles.

The combination of the two factors has forced members of the tribe to become involved in illegal logging as a source of money to meet their basic living demands and, for some, to catch up with modernity. The latter includes the purchase of electronic equipment and "modern" clothes.

However, there is also another economic reason behind the involvement of some members of the Kubu tribe in illegal logging. Robert said Kubu tribespeople had become involved in logging because of their close relations with traditional buyers, known as jenang waris or tauke.

"In the past, Kubu tribespeople collected forest products, such as rattan and honey, and sold them to traditional buyers," Robert said.

He said the Kubu tribe was very dependent on its traditional buyers, who often helped the indigenous people, such as by giving them staple foods when the tribe was unable to collect forest products. Due to a decrease in the supply of forest products, Robert said, the jenang waris were currently asking the tribe to participate in illegal logging, and bought the logs from them.

"The Kubu tribe does not feel able to resist orders from the jenang waris. They are scared of alienating traditional buyers because they are very dependent on them," he said. He added the buyers worked in partnership with people from outside the national park, who had a huge amount of capital to buy logs.

Robert said some groups within the Kubu tribe, who did not participate in illegal logging, often became involved in conflicts with those of their friends who did.

"The groups often try to prevent people from destroying "the homes of their Gods", but are unable to defeat illegal loggers, who are supported by many, including outsiders," he said.

He said the increase in illegal logging had caused a marked decline in the number of trees in the area, of which only 65 percent were left in the 60,500-hectare forest.

Illegal logging continues totally unchecked due to the absence of security officers in the protected forest.

"The government should pay serious attention to the matter," said Robert, adding that it had to protect both the forests and the Kubu tribe.