Weaving houses were evicted, materials for natural dyes were also cleared for the Mbay Lambo Dam.
By FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN
Behind the lenses of her 2.2 plus glasses, Bibiana Doe’s eyes are fixed on each strand of yarn. The gnarled fingers of the 68-year-old grandmother smooth each strip of yarn so that they do not overlap. The threads are made lengthwise and crosswise, then woven into sheets of cloth.
That Friday (23/8/2024) evening, she was weaving in the kitchen of her house in Rendubutowe Village, South Aesesa District, Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Alone. It was quiet. There was no sound of neighbors who were usually busy.
“There is already an order for us to vacate this place. The neighbor went to look for vacant land elsewhere. I’m still confused about where to go,” he said.
The house belonging to Doe and dozens of other residents had to be immediately vacated and demolished. The area has been pegged by the government as part of the Mbay Lambo Dam area. Despite the residents’ rejection, the government unilaterally took measurements and determined the compensation price.
Like it or not, the community must accept the government’s decision. For people who still refuse, they are welcome to take legal action. Whatever happens, the area is still vacated. The compensation money is deposited by the government in court.
Construction of the dam began in 2021 and is targeted for completion by the end of 2024. The dam is a national strategic project with a budget of IDR 1.4 trillion. A total of 555 parcels of residents’ land were taken, with a total area of 496.14 hectares.
These are Bibiana’s last days at home. She will be leaving the house she and her family have lived in for decades. The house where she raised her seven children. The house where joys and sorrows came and went. It is also the house where she first learned to weave, some 50 years ago. “Maybe this is my last weaving,” she said with a sad face.
The cloth being woven is about 2 meters long and 0.8 meters wide. It took him about three weeks to complete it. Once finished, the cloth is sold for Rp 700,000. If the need is urgent, it can be reduced to IDR 500,000.
Read also: Our Customary Land Taken by Force, Valued at Only IDR 30,500
Similar concerns were expressed by Kristina Ito (67), another weaver. Many materials for natural dyes are starting to disappear along with the clearing of forests for dam areas. The coloring materials, such as the roots of a local plant they call loba. There is also noni and mahogany.
By using natural dyes, they no longer incur the cost of buying synthetic dyes. The price of woven fabrics with natural dyes is also much more expensive because they are more marketable. The price difference between natural and synthetic dyes is up to millions of rupiah.
“This might be my last weaving”They could cultivate natural dye plants, but it would take years. Not to mention, they now have no more land to plant on after the government took it away. “I am already old. I’m tired of having to look for natural dyes. Maybe I will stop weaving,” says Kristina.Angela Merciana Mau (46), a female leader in Rendubutowe, motivates the weavers not to be discouraged. She promised to help market their weavings on social media, as she has been doing. Merciana’s weavings are spread across several regions of Indonesia.KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERINTanaman was evicted for the construction of the Mbay Lambo Dam in Nagekeo Regency, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (21/8/2024). Many of them are economically valuable plants, such as pandanus and enau.
“This might be my last weaving”
They could cultivate natural dye plants, but it would take years. Not to mention, they now have no more land to plant on after the government took it away. “I am already old. I’m tired of having to look for natural dyes. Maybe I will stop weaving,” says Kristina.
Angela Merciana Mau (46), a female leader in Rendubutowe, motivates the weavers not to be discouraged. She promised to help market their weavings on social media, as she has been doing. Merciana’s weavings are spread across several regions of Indonesia.
For natural dyes, Merciana is trying out several formulas of ingredients found around the house and garden. While waiting for the results, she uses synthetic dyes. Alternatively, she buys yarn whose color is directly adjusted to the motif and pattern of the fabric.
To empower the weavers, Merciana and several women in Rendubutowe are involved in the Equality to Eliminate Injustice and Discrimination program. The program is part of a collaboration between the Partnership for Governance Reform and the Women’s Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago.
Nagekeo’s fabric is generally black with golden yellow motifs and patterns. According to Merciana, the black color symbolizes the land that is always attached to the community, and yellow which means prosperity.
This means that it is from the land that people will prosper. The land is where they live, farm, raise livestock and hunt. The results support them. Now, their land has been taken by the government for the construction of the Mbay Lambo Dam. Prosperity is getting away from them.
Nagekeo Regency Regional Secretary Lukas Mere said the government is preparing an empowerment program for communities affected by the construction of the Mbay Lambo Dam. One of them is weaving. However, until now, the program has not been seen in the community.
During the interview, Lukas also showed the Nagekeo community a typical bag made of pandan leaves. He encouraged creative economy players to continue producing this type of bag. Unfortunately, the forest where the pandanus plants are now cleared for dams. It is increasingly difficult for craftsmen to get raw materials.
Rakhmat Nur Hakim, Communication Manager at the Partnership for Governance Reform, encourages weavers to continue weaving. He believes that the market for woven fabrics is promising. It is used daily, during traditional ceremonies, weddings, and deaths. Also for souvenirs for guests.
Rakhmat understands the increasingly difficult fate of the weavers when their land is taken away, and natural dyes for weaving are increasingly difficult to obtain. However, if they stop weaving, their economy will deteriorate even further. He promises to continue providing assistance until the weavers can truly be independent.
Don’t let woven fabrics, such as those being worked on by Mama Bibiana Doe and Mama Kristina Ito today, become the last sheets before the Mbay Lambo Dam’s inundation comes.
Read also: Mbay Lambo Dam Conflict, Even Tribal Chief is Abused by a Little Boy
Editor: SIWI YUNITA CAHYANINGRUM
Source: Kompas.id
https://www.kompas.id/baca/nusantara/2024/08/30/tenun-terakhir-sebelum-digenangi-air-bendungan-mbay-lambo
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