Nomads No More

New Order Era have forced Nomads Sea Tribe of Riau Islands to move ashore. For the sake of
economic growth around Riau Islands, Former President Suharto forced Nomads Sea Tribe to
abandon their way of life. Government saw them as backwards communities that could hinder the
economic development.

On the other hand climate crisis and damaged sea ecosystem make it difficult for them to hunt fish.
Instead of finding new area to hunt, they are bound to their land. Now they are looking for alternative
work, namely cutting down mangrove trees to make charcoal, especially Nomads Sea Tribes
community that lives in Tanjung Gundap Village, Batam Island. They are forced to do this illegal
activity because they have no other skills apart from hunting fish.

Nomads Sea Tribe of Riau Islands live in the sea on canoes which they call Kajang. They are an Old
Malay tribe (The Proto Malay) who spread across the island of Sumatra in 2500-1500 BC. In Riau
Islands, it is estimated that there are 44 groups of Sea Tribe with a population of around 12,800
people. Now only a small number of them still practice nomadic and semi-nomadic culture.

Orde Baru serta krisis iklim membuat masyarakat nomaden Suku Laut di Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia
untuk pindah ke daratan. Demi kepentingan pembangunan ekonomi di Kepulauan Riau, Mantan
Presiden Soeharto memaksa mereka meninggalkan budaya nomaden karena dianggap terbelakang
dan dapat menghambat pembangunan.

Di sisi lain krisis iklim dan kerusakan laut membuat mereka kesulitan berburu ikan. Kini mereka
mencari alternatif pekerjaan lain yaitu menebang pohon bakau untuk dijadikan kayu arang, terutama
mereka yang tinggal di Tanjung Gundap, Pulau Batam. Aktivitas ilegal ini terpaksa mereka lakukan
lantaran mereka tidak punya keterampilan lain selain berburu ikan.

Suku laut sejatinya adalah suku nomaden, mereka tinggal di laut di atas sampan yang mereka sebut
kajang. Mereka adalah bangsa Melayu Tua (Proto Melayu) yang menyebar di pulau Sumatra pada
2500-1500 sebelum masehi. Di Kepri, diperkirakan ada 44 kelompok suku laut yang jumlahnya sekitar
12.800 jiwa. Kini hanya sebagian kecil dari mereka yang masih menjalankan budaya nomaden dan
semi nomaden.