Kubu tribe marginalized on their own soil

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.