Masrani and Muaratae

Masrani, The Young Generation of Muaratae

When we talk about Muaratae, we will know Masrani. He is a son of Pak Asuy, the founder of Muaratae indigenous people movement. Both are the militant family on land movement in Jempang subdistrict, West Kutai, East Kalimantan. When the people of other area started giving up and sold their land to the Palm Oil Company, Masrani and Muaratae community still fight and keep their land. More than 20 years, Muaratae indigenous people keep their movement.

As a young generation, Masrani understood about his community problems. It happened since he was a child when still studying in basic school. His father (Pak Asuy) is the first person who leads the movement. Now, when Masrani gets adult and becomes the head village of Muaratae, he continues to fight the Palm Oil Company, same as his father.

As usual, there are always many risks in the movement. Masrani gots some risks in his fighting either : not accepted as a head of his village by the local government and criminalized by the Palm Oil Company. Police sent a letter and wanted to interrogate him. Police said, Masrani did some criminal action by not allowing the car of the oil company came to the conflict area.

Masrani, who has a son already graduated from a university in East Kalimantan, he is lucky to has a good and independent wife either. So, he can focus on his fighting with the indigenous people movement and sharing on domestic works. Masrani is not only activist, he is a farmer either. That’s why, he keeps on going fighting to the palm oil company expansion. The company doesn’t allow to take over the land without any agreement with the indigenous people community of Muaratae because the community has lived on those lands for many years ago. Since about 1980, Masrani knew how Muaratae got the problem and keep fighting to the Forest company, Palm oil company and mining company.

As a pioneer, Masrani who was elected as the head of his village in 2009, has to face the new problem : the head of Kutai district doesn’t allow Masrani becomes the head of Muaratae and drop Masrani in 2012. The head of Kutai district said, Masrani doesn’t have enough some administrative things. When Masrani made some investigation, Masrani found some data that the head of Kutai district is one of many companies supporters who exploiting some nature resources in East Kalimantan. All is clear now, they oppose each other and they are hard to compromise.

Even Muaratae’s community supports Masrani, the head of Kutai district does not care about it. He tends to abuse the power for personal, his group, and the company interest. He does not care about the future of his people at all, especially indigenous Dayak Benuaq people. The head of West Kutai district does not understand that the land is the most important for our future and new generation. It is not only for us, but for all. We have to care and keep it green. He does not know the Dayak Benuaq tradition, the place Masrani grew.

Being target by police and paramilitary of the company is not something new for Masrani and indigenous Dayak Benuaq people. They have great history as a fighter who opposed to Kutai Kartanegara kingdom.

As a leader of indigenous people, Masrani has tradition of progressive mind. It happened when he graduated from Law Department of Mulawarman University, especially on agrarian law. He has good network with many Nongovernment Organization (NGO) in Indonesia too. It is a perfect experience as new generation of indigenous people movement since he was a child. Even the forest which they keep going fighting is not so big (4000 ha) and the indigenous people land / forest is 11 000 ha, those are good investments for our future when they keep struggling because this forest is the last and the only one in Jempang lake area, East Kalimantan. The others are become mining and palm oil areas, already. This expansion and exploration gave some advantages to the community, but the next generation will get the big risks : no land access, no fresh air, no fresh water, and getting poorer. Now, they only have one forest which connected to three rivers as the source of water for thousands of people in two subdistrict area. Those are Nayan river, Melinau river, and Melipeh river.

The mission of Masrani is keep on caring the forest of Muaratae indigenous people. His goal is to stop the process of land exploitation by the palm oil company and keep save the ecology, economy, and culture of Muaratae indigenous people. That’s why, YPP wants to appreciate and support him and his community movement. Now, they need to hold some traditional routines as medium to keep the spirit of the people for fighting and keeping on the forest / land. They held it before, but holding this tradition is more effective and important for them to increase their morales, especially when they feel weaker than before, because there are many companies around them : PT Munte Waniq Jaya Perkasa, PT Borneo Surya Mining Jaya, PT Gunung Bayan Pratama Coal, PT London Sumatera and PT Kencana Wisto. Lastly, this is the best quote for this case : ”Land, forest, and earth are not to own from our parents, but they are assets for our next generation, our better future!”

Written by Isti Komah