A Promise of ‘Livelihood Land’ for the Orang Rimba Tribe in Jambi

For almost three decades, many parts of the forest area, has turned into monoculture plantations. The realization of the government’s promise to give “livelihood land” for Orang Rimba tribe, is awaited.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

Social Afairs Minister Tri Rismaharini had a dialogue with the children of the Orang Rimba community in the Terab River area, Batanghari Regency, Jambi, Wednesday (10/3/2021).

BATANGHARI, KOMPAS - Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini has promised to give “livelihood land” for the nomadic rang Rimba tribe in Jambi. The land is needed to ensure sustainable food production for the tribe community in the Bukit Duabelas national park.

Minister Risma made the promise during a visit to the community in the Terab River area, Batanghari Regency, Jambi, on Wednesday (10/3/2021). Risma came to the Orang Rimba settlement, which is tucked away between the oil palm and rubber corporate plantations, to see their homes, with plastic tarpaulin roof and without walls.

Seeing this condition, Risma then offered to build houses for the Orang Rimba community. "How about, if we build a simple house ?" the minister said during a discussion with Tumenggung Ngelembo, the tribe leader in the area.

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Ngelembo refused. "We don\'t need a house. We need land," he said. According to him, if they are given land, the Orang Rimba people can plant to meet their food needs and no longer need to move around. Later they can build their own house.

The Orang Rimba’s request for farming areas has been conveyed to the government for several times, including to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during his visit to the Orang Rimba community in 2015.

We don\'t need a house. We need land.

The President agreed and fulfilled the land request, but the results were not optimal because the locations of their residences are scattered in many places. The same request was also given to a number of social affairs ministers in the previous period.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

Children from the Orang Rimba community in the Bukit Duabelas area, Batanghari Regency. Jambi, Wednesday (10/3/2021).

The Orang Rimba, who live in the middle of the Bukit Duabelas forest area , was quite prosperous in the past, said Ngelembo. The area consists of six districts in Jambi. The lives of the Orang Rimba changed drastically when the rapid conversion of forests to plantations took place in the 1990s.

They lost their food sources as the forest areas were turned into monoculture plantations owned by big companies. In fact, the Orang Rimba people are often evicted from their ancestral lands. Without having farming land, said Ngelembo, the Orang Rimba people would be unable to maintain their life and culture.

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Ngelembo\'s request was immediately accepted by Risma. After calculating the required land area and its financing costs, the minister said she agreed to meet the request. Her office would later discuss the matter with the Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister. "If one family gets a hectare of land, it seems quite feasible,” she added.

On that occasion, Risma also met with officials of PT Wana Perintis which operates a plantation around the Orang Rimba community. The minister asked the company to allocate farming land for the community.

According to Heri, a company spokesman, the company has allocated 114 hectares of land for the Orang Rimba people to open rubber cultivation. He admitted that it would be difficult for the company if it was asked to give more land areas for the tribe.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini with children from the Orang Rimba community in the Terab River area, Batanghari Regency, Jambi, Wednesday (10/3/2021).

Population data

Risma\'s visit in Batanghari was part of her agenda of launching population data for Orang Rimba. The launch marked the government\'s formal recognition of the Orang Rimba as citizens. By having family cards and identity cards, the Orang Rimba can also access various government programs in the social, educational, economic and legal fields.

The agenda for the launch of population data, which was scheduled to be held on Wednesday afternoon at the Jelutih Village Office, was postponed because when she arrived there, Risma instead held a meeting with the Orang Rimba representatives, as well as the Batanghari regent, Fadhil Arief and the assistant deputy for the Orang Rimba affairs, Rudi Syaf.

She later decided to visit the residential area of the tribe in the hinterland to see herself their life condition. After traveling for two hours, Risma met and chatted with the Orang Rimba community, including the Orang Rimba children.

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For children, Risma promised to provide internet connection so that they can carry out a long distance learning.

Batanghari Regent Fadhil Arief confirmed that the Orang Rimba really needed a living space. At present, most parts of the land areas occupied by the Orang Rimba have been converted into large plantations.

In order to continue to meet the basic needs of the Orang Rimba, the local government provides health and education services through community health centers and ‘mobile’ teachers.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.