Poverty Eradication

Photo: SpecialSuku Utan is an isolated tribe located in one of the island in Riau Island. It takes about 2 hour traveling by climbing the hill, and go through the sea, the river, bushes and reeds for about 40 kilometers to reach their village.

The ironic thing is, the population of the tribe in Rempang Island, Galang sub-district, Batam City, Riau Island is getting smaller day by day because their forest is reduced by the development activity while the dead rate of Suku Utan resident is higher than the birth rate.

To reach the location of the tribe whose residents are only 3 left or about 12 people, land transportation (for around 30 minutes) must be taken then continued by a pompong "boat" for the sea transportation for about 15 minutes then walk to their residence for at least 15 minutes.

Photo: SpecialAccording to the report of a social work conducted by Lembaga Amil Zakat Infaq DSNI Amanah Batam, the tribe has been living from the nature source since their ancestor era. Therefore, their quality of life is very concerning and they are also illiterate and only use difficult local language.

According to Mr. Kosot (80) the elder of the original tribe of Rempang, they have lived as nomads but still occupied the stage house with minimum facility as their shelter.

Sanitation, electric power, and water well are not even exist in their area. For clothes, they only wear some indecent and tattered clothes. They are also afraid to meet foreigners from outside their group. One of the reason is language. Their language is difficult to understand and it makes them reluctant to answer questions.

Photo: document of dsniamanah

"If they see us, they will run to the forest and refuse to talk to us," said one of the DSNI Amanah team member.

Suku ini telah beberapa kali didatangi oleh "tamu" baik dari dari pemerintah maupun swasta. Hal ini terbukti dengan bekas peninggalan proyek bantuan rumah sebanyak 5 unit yang hingga kini tidak kunjung usai.

Photo: SpecialSome governmental and private officials have been here several times. It is proven by the unfinished construction of 5 houses from the housing aid project. According to Mr. Lamat (40) the second child Mr. Kosot, the source of the unfinished housing aid project is uncertain. At that time, some people made them the houses since the tribe was still open for other people goodwill.

However, since the project stopped without any clear reason, they might have been felt guilty because the construction workers chose to leave.

Photo: SpecialThat's why, they seem do not trust stranger anymore and it makes them more isolated than before.

The existence of the original tribe of Rempang is now in the edge of its extinction. 30 Years ago there were 70 families or about 13o people but now there are only 3 families left with 13 people.