Swallows' nests turn Medan into ghost town

By Apriadi Gunawan

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Visit Kawasan, Kampung Keling, Ayahanda, Tembung, Labuhan Deli, Sanggal and Padang Bulan and almost any other part of this capital city of North Sumatra, and observe the almost overnight emergence of tall buildings there.

Unlike the tall buildings in many other cities, nobody dwells in these ones. They are not beautiful architecturally. In fact they are gloomy and spooky for they have been built for the sole purpose of allowing swallows to nest.

These parts of the city are slowly being turned into something resembling a cemetery, or a ghost town where only the shrill screams of the fast-flying birds pierce the silence. The stench of bird droppings is one reason why many people have become annoyed with the presence of these swallow's nest businesses in their midst.

Some people believe that not only are the eerie structures an eyesore, but that the scattered bird droppings are a source of disease. There is another nuisance: the constant, nerve-racking and ear-piercing shrills imitating the sounds of the birds produced by special devices to lure the birds into the buildings.

According to Dr. A. Naiboru, MSc, a biomedical expert from the University of North Sumatra, the noises produced by the swallows can disrupt humans and create discomfort.

Naiboru explained that if the sound intensity went beyond 85 decibels (dB(A) for eight hours at a stretch per day or 40 hours a week, it could be classified as disruptive, causing people in the vicinity to suffer from insomnia. And if the sound intensity is over 95 dB(A), eventually it could cause deafness in the people in the proximity of the source.

During the day, swallow-like noises from cassettes to attract swallows blare even louder than the roar of the hustle and bustle of the city -- a sign that people involved in the swallow's nests business are unaware of the grave impact the shrieking sounds have on life in the vicinity.

"We only hope that the noises from the cassettes can lure more swallows," said Tony, a swallow's nest businessman of Chinese descent in Kesawan.

Tony let it be known that because of the noise, he is able to attract birds and make millions every month, despite the noise being irritating to others.

The nests, which are individually pasted together with bird saliva, can fetch Rp 16 million to Rp 17 million a kilogram. "The higher the value of the dollar, the more money we earn," he said.

It stands to reason that more and more people have been drawn to this kind of business. Unfortunately, the city administration and the regional legislative council have not paid much attention to the matter, and have not taken advantage of the city's potential. Up to date not a single ruling has been made with regard to this lucrative bird's nest business, which could draw a handsome revenue for the city's coffers.

The division head of the city's public relations, Ismunandar, acknowledged that no law to govern the business had been enacted, but said there were plans to implement a regulation in 2002.

Ismunandar further said: "Now the members of the legislative council are hammering out a regulation concerning this business and now those who wish to construct a building for nesting swallows must abide by prevailing regulations," referring to building permits (IMBs), under which only three-story buildings can be constructed.

Realizing that the buildings for nesting swallows spoil the city's views, the city administration plans on relocating them to the northern coastal areas such as Medan Belawan, Medan Labuhan and Medan Marelan. Ismunandar, however, is uncertain whether the plan will go through because demolition and reconstruction of the buildings would cost a lot of money.

Medan Mayor Abdillah once promised to straighten out irregularities and demolish offending buildings, but so far no measure has been taken. On the contrary, these ugly buildings are mushrooming in the area and many shop owners have transformed their shops into tall, gigantic concrete structures for the gold- laying birds.

Last Wednesday, legislator Martius Latuperisa in Medan said that the mayor must demolish the buildings immediately because they contravened city regulations. He added: "These structures are of no benefit to the general public. They are the breeding ground of various dangerous ailments for the local people.

"There is no denying that the owners get some backing from certain people, otherwise the buildings wouldn't be there, and those who back them up are sitting at ease in the city administration or even in the regional legislative council," Martius charged, without naming any names.

Perhaps the city of Asahan could be one of the first regional administrations in North Sumatra clever enough to see the golden opportunity of this prolific business.

With a recently approved regional ruling regarding the swallow's nest business already on hand, the city has managed to put Rp 500 million in its coffers in less than a year. City planning has also become better organized. According to Bustami, faction head of the United Development Party in Asahan, the ruling emerged as a result of the uncontrollable construction of buildings for nesting.

"Here we have more than 1,500 structures and around Kisaran there are about 200," Bustami said. "Before the issuance of the regulation, the city was just like a ghost town and many residents denounced the existence of the structures."

The new regulation stipulates several points related to height, occupancy and sales tax. For example, the sales tax is 10 percent to 15 percent, buildings must not exceed a height of 30 meters and the first floor must be designed like a residence and be occupied. Apart from that, the owner is to calculate the environmental impact of his building."

Those who do not go by the book are liable to criminal or civil sanctions.

Since harvest time varies according to the number of swallows visiting a building -- with some reaping their harvest once a month, but others mostly on a quarterly basis -- the city administration, therefore, has set up a team to monitor tax evasion.

The nests are generally exported to Singapore and China, where history shows that swallow's nests were consumed by royalty. The Chinese strongly believe that the nest, besides being tasty, has healing properties for various ailments.