Tanimbar in Perspective: Past, Today, and Future

Saumlaki, (02/12/2009)— The peoples of Tanimbar ( or MTB) have owned a high level of civilization since long time ago. This is reflected by their attitudes, and products that have been kept until today. The systems of their culture that regulate a person’s right and obligation, genetic relationship and cultural structure in their community are still maintained well although some of them have been disappeared due to the Dutch and Japanese colonialism in Tanimbar region…

Besides that, although they live in isolated region, the relationship between peoples of Tanimbar and outside world well maintained.

Trade relations with other regions have been conducted for hundred years. The historical evidence, such as, gold jewelry [both for men and women], bracelet, ceramic plate and earthenware jug from China, elephant tusk, and so on, still exist now, and can be found in Tanimbar.

Their progress in civilization includes their persistence to cross the sea in order to trade their natural products, has had a distortion since the Dutch colonialization in the 16th century, and it was followed by the Japanese colonialization in the early decade of 1940’s [second world war].

During that time MTB region was used to be the basis of defence, by building defence base in many areas of MTB, includes airport in Desa Lingat.

A long period of colonialism caused degradation of culture of Tanimbar’s peoples. The next implication is the appearance of “inferior mentality” among the peoples of Tanimbar after the colonialism. Until now, this has still influenced the peoples’ character.

A long journey in upgrading the traumatic condition and degradation of peoples’ civilization, can be revitalised by a systematical culture reengineering, and accelerating development in various sectors. By taking these actions, a good cultural seeds and civilization in the past can be maintained and transformed.

We must admit that during the period of Orde Baru, the development policy was not fully affirmed for this region. Moreover, this region almost disappeared from the agenda of Indonesian development. Therefore, Nico de Jong dan Toos Van Dick once ever mentioned that this region is like a “Forgotten Islands-Periplus”. This statement is true if we see a very insufficient amount of development budget allocated for. Fortunately, the natural dinamics of the peoples in this region is good, and that enables this region to survive and develops.

Generally, MTB region has very big potentials, include various sectors, such as, mining, fishery, agriculture, plantation, animal husbandry, forestry, culture and tourism. The mining potentials of natural gas and oil will be produced in the near future. The potentials of natural gas contain about 10 trilyun cubic, and will be soon produced by a Japanese Investor-IMPEX. The construction will be started in 2010.

While the natural oil is being explored by a Chinese Investor-CNOOC. Besides that, the potentils of fishery is also very big. Moreover, the sea of MTB and its surroundings (see data in 2007, from The Department of Sea and Fishery – or Departemen Kelautan dan Perikanan RI tahun 2007) is one of the biggest fish supplier for Indonesia and Sout-East Asia and East Asia. Besides producing fish, this region is also rich in sea cucumber[teripang], Lola, Batu Laga, Pearl [Mutiara], and sea weeds [rumput laut]. Moreover, the sea weeds produced by MTB has the largest amount compared to those produced by other regions in Maluku Province, and the quality is number in the world.

The potentials of agriculture, animal husbandry, plantation and forestry are very big and have not yet been produced in a large number and in a big economic scale. Recently, we have just finished building a new coconut oil factory, and now it starts to operate. The potentials of culture and tourism are also very big, especially cultural tourism, maritime tourism, and agro tourism. These potentials attract the tourists from foereign countries. This can be seen as the fact that the tourists from foreign countries are very interested in joining a sail competition Darwin-Saumlaki – conducted every year. Moreover the Sail Indonesia 2009 activities attended by many countries recently make Saumlaki city as first the entry-port to be visited.

Generally, the huge potentials have not yet been fully managed. Participation of the private companies is also very low. The prime mover of the MTB economy is is only the government investment through yearly Local Budget [APBD]. The result is very positive. It has been reflected by the economic growth of Kabupaten MTB for the last few years. In 2004, the economic growth of MTB was 3,32 percents, in 2005 was 3,74 percents, in 2006 was 3,85 percents, and in 2007 was 5,11 percents.

The ability of regional government to manage their economic potentials can also be measured through PDRB. PDRB of Kabupaten MTB in 2007, based on the implemented price inthe market [or Lapangan Usaha Atas Harga Berlaku] was 663.125,35 million IDR or increased about 65.817,05 million IDR or 11,02 percents compared with the one in 2006. While the PDRB in 2007 on contant price in 2000 was 411.625,38 million IDR, or increased about 5,11 percents compared with the one in 2006. Income percapita in 2007 was 3.488.148,-IDR or grew about 3,07 percents compared with the one in 2006 about 3.202.562,-IDR.

An price indicator to see level of inflation and deflation is the Implicit Pricing Index of PDRB. The resultds of a calculation shows that implicit index in 2007 was 161,10 percents. This means that in general the price of goods and services produced in Kabupaten MTB increased about 61,10 percents compared with the one in 2000. The highest increase of price was in the Electricity, Gas, and Clean water sectors –about 112,03 percents, while the lowest increase was in transportation and communication sectors-about 36,49 percents.

The growth of investment in Kabupaten MTB during the last five years was fluctuated. In 2004, the investment growth in Kabupaten MTB shoed a sharp increase-about 196 percents compared with the one in the previous year. However, in 2005, the investment growth decreased significantly-about minus 163 percents. In 2006 there was a significant increase of investment growth about 168,75 percents, but in 2007 decreased again minus 30 percents.

The Trend of economic growth in Kabupaten MTB is very much influeced by the regional, national, and international economic condition. Regionally, Maluku Province has just been recovered from religious and ethnic conflict. This factor also influenced the interest of investor to invest their capital in Maluku and MTB. Other factor is the global financial crisis in 2007- also affected our national budget. Internally, Kabupaten MTB has not owned sufficient infrastructure to stimulate investment in the regions.

Now, after the recovery of security in Maluku, gradually business climate is getting more conducive. The regional government of MTB is also managing and doing reformation of bureaucracy, includes mmaking various regulations that can support the development of economy in general, and the investment from private sectors. Besides that, gradually, we attempt to develop various infrastructure of the government, social, communication, energy and regional economy. By developing those various sectors, we hope our regional economy social mobility can be improved.

From geostrategic perspective, the MTB region is located in the edge of south part of Maluku province and is directly bordered with Australia and Timor Leste. MTB is an isolated border area in Indonesia, and most of its peoples are still in poverty line left behind. Therefore, MTB is also categorized as one of the disadvantaged regions in Indonesia. Statistic shows the number of households which are categorized almost poor 1.912 or 7,42 percents, poor 8.039 or 31,19 percents, and very poor 2.167 or 8,41 percents.

Tthis poverty level is influenced by several factors, which become a crucial problem in Kabupaten Maluku Tenggara Barat, namely:

1. Low accessibility;
2. Limited infrastructure of basic public service;
3. Limited infrastructure, especially land, sea, and air transportation; telecommunication, and energy;
4. Low quality of human resources;
5. Limited management of local economic resources;
6. Lack of employment opportunities.

To overcome the problems, the regional government of MTB will continuously work hard to find alternatives of financial resources, includes an attempt to build global cooperation in order to put the development vision of Kabupaten MTB 2007-2012 in to realization that: “The peoples of MTB have values, autonomy, prosperity or Terwujudnya Masyarakat Maluku Tenggara Barat yang Bermartabat, Mandiri, dan Sejahtera”. This visin is then presented further into 5 Development Missions, namely:

1. The peoples of MTB will have good moral, spiritual, and culture that support law and human rights;
2. The regional government of MTB will be transparent, responsive, and accountable;
3. The peoples of MTB will be healthy, brilliant, and have good work ethics;
4. The peoples of MTB will have a strong social culture, self reliance, and strong bargaining position;
5. The peoples of MTB will have stamina of economy by having good income , and equal distribution, and have good living standard.

To achieve the development vision and missions, then the development priority of MTB region consists of:

1. Improving the tenacity of food and agricultural productivity, and fishery as a whole;
2. Improving basic public service in education and health;
3. Improving infrastructure in the region in order to support the growth of regional economy;
4. Accelerate the bureaucracy reformation of the local government;

The four development priorities are presented in five [5] development program, namely:

1. Improvement of infrastructure:

1. Development and improvement of road, bridge, clean water, airport, and telecommunication infrastructure is done proportionally in all regions in order to open access, and stimulate the growth of peoples’ economy.

1. Development of good cooperation and partnerships among the regions,
   among the government, foreign countries, and various national, regional,
   and international institutions to develop infrastructure.

1. Improvement of basic public service
   1. Improvement, equal distribution and management of hardware and soft ware to support a 12-year compulsory education.
   2. Formulation of quality improvement in all levels and in all areas in the region.
   3. Improvement, equal distribution and management of health hardware and soft ware in all areas in the region.
   4. Management of system, planning mechanism, supply and control of medicine and food
   5. Development of protection system and health services for people, including the reduction of mothers and babies’ death
   6. Development of health service system based on the location of the islands
   7. Socialization of attitude and keep-healthy culture to the people
2. Pemberdayaan Ekonomi Masyarakat:
   1. Improvement of food supply and access, improvement of food production and productivity, and improvement of food distribution system and trading.
   2. Improvement of food diversification.
   3. Improvement of high quality-commodity-based businesses that have high value added, based on the strengths of each region.
   4. Empowerment and capacity improvement of economic institution and businesses.
   5. Management of system and mechanism of providing technical assistance and business capital for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, and cooperatives.
3. Percepatan Reformasi Birokrasi:
   1. Reformation of the regional government bureaucracy in order to achieve good governance..
   2. Improvement of the roles of government, NGO, and businesses in the regions in order tom push regional development acceleration.
   3. Development of good cooperation and partnerships among the regions, among the government, foreign countries, and various national, regional, and international institutions to accelerate regional development.
   4. Improvement of excellent service system of the bureaucracy for the people and businesses.
4. Pelestarian Lingkungan Hidup
   1. Improvement of management, the use of natural resource, and the function of the environment in order to have them balanced and sustainable for the improvement of peoples’ welfare.
   2. Improvement of peoples’ awareness and capacity to protect and to sustain environment

   This is Material Content in Presentation in International Conference, Le Maredieen Hotel.  02 Jakarta 2009