What are happening at the backyards of the Momoguns? So many, you would say, some good, some bad, some dangerous.
The problem is that bad things are seldom obvious. In fact, these are the very things that evil people or groups are trying to hide from the same people whose livelihood is at risk.
Who cares about these Momoguns, anyway, these people who are indigenous to this island of Borneo? What is the possibility that their very own government may not truly understand them and their aspiration as a people? Are their own leaders fighting for their rights? Are these leaders caught in political maneuverings and compromises that adversely affect the livelihood and even the very survival of their people?
These Momogun people may wish all they want for a better quality of life. These will remain mere wishes for a very long time. Their lot may never change. Things are not going to get any easier any sooner in a world that is becoming more competitive even as you read this blog.
You may think that there are still virgins jungles at the backyards of Momoguns. Can anyone be sure that nothing is happening under the thick canopy of trees that envelope these jungles of Borneo?
You read about experts and companies being given the go ahead by authorities to conduct so-called research in certain parts of the land which are supposed to be protected under the law, having been declared as heritage sites. Can anyone be sure that nothing is taken out of the land? How can this be prevented?
There was this story about the wild flora of Sabah that came out in one of the publications a few years ago. The story was that somebody discovered that species of orchids that are found only in Sabah were seen on sale in some countries. Taking even a specimen of these wild orchids is prohibited. How was it possible that these orchids were available for sale in those countries?
What else are happening right at the backyards of the Momoguns of Borneo?
Who will protect their rights? The law appears to be ineffective. Some people from other countries come only to exploit these people instead of highlighting their plight.
The different governments that own different parts of Borneo would do well to emulate what the Canadian government had done for the Indians of Canada, the First Nations, and what the Australian government had done for the aborigines, the original Australians.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
The Momoguns of Borneo
Who are the momoguns of Borneo? Momogun is a Kadazan word that means 'natives' or "indigenous people".
Borneo is a large island, reputedly the second largest island in the world after Greenland in Europe. Some people had argued that Borneo is not the second largest island. Well, it does not matter that much. What is more important is that a place called Borneo does exist in this world.
The big island of Borneo is divided between three nations, namely, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Sabah and Sarawak are member-nations of the Federation of Malaysia. To the South-east of Borneo is Kalimantan which is part of the Republic of Indonesia. Brunei is wedged between Sarawak and Sabah.
To the east of Sabah is the Philippines and Indonesia to the south. The four countries, Malaysia, The Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei had concluded some sort of economic agreement referred to as BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area.) There are pros and cons in this arrangement.
The Momoguns of Borneo in Sabah
The natives of Sabah include the Kadazans, Bajaus Sama, Muruts, among many others who are smaller in terms of population. The non-Muslim natives have become a minority group in Sabah. People from outside Sabah now outnumber Sabahan natives. It had been revealed that many of them were given or managed to obtain Malaysian citizenship through the back door.
Apart from the natives, the momoguns, Sabah has a fairly large number of Chinese. There are others such as Indians, and those whose ancestry are Indonesian, Suluk or Ibans. Ibans are indigenous to Sarawak.
The Momoguns of Sarawak
The natives or Momoguns of Sarawak include the Ibans (Sea Dayak), Land Dayak, and Melanau. The majority of Dayaks still live in long houses.
As there is a strict control on migration particularly of people from outside Sarawak, the momoguns of Sarawak are still very much in control of their future.
There is a fairly large number of Chinese living in Sarawak.
The Momoguns of Kalimantan
The majority of the momoguns of Kalimantan are the Dayaks which would include the Ngaju people and the Bentian tribe who are mostly Christians.
Now there is the presence of Muslim Madurese as the result of the Indonesian government plan on transmigration beginning in the 1930s. The introduction of other Indonesians from another part of Indonesia into Kalimantan caused tribal animosity which led to fights between feollow Indonesians resulting in many deaths.
The rights of Momoguns are being eroded
Almost everywhere in Borneo, the God-given rights of the momoguns are being eroded and trampled under foot. And there is not much they can do. They are left to fight on their own since not many among their local leaders are influential enough to change the way they are being treated.
Some many may have begun to think that fighting for their rights is a futile exercise. There is no one to whom they can turn for help. People from outside are not allowed to interfere. What more why should other countries be interested in helping them without conditions? Who would care enough to ensure the survival of these Momoguns? After all, who among the former colonial masters who benefited much from being in control of these territories in the past would care to spend money on a human enterprise that brings no reward of any form.
Only education can enable the Momoguns to improve their lot. But education is not available for everybody. And even if educational facilities are available, these may be too far away, preventing many Momguns children from getting any form of education even at the primary level.
These people may have to wait a long time. By then it will be too late.
Borneo is a large island, reputedly the second largest island in the world after Greenland in Europe. Some people had argued that Borneo is not the second largest island. Well, it does not matter that much. What is more important is that a place called Borneo does exist in this world.
The big island of Borneo is divided between three nations, namely, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Sabah and Sarawak are member-nations of the Federation of Malaysia. To the South-east of Borneo is Kalimantan which is part of the Republic of Indonesia. Brunei is wedged between Sarawak and Sabah.
To the east of Sabah is the Philippines and Indonesia to the south. The four countries, Malaysia, The Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei had concluded some sort of economic agreement referred to as BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area.) There are pros and cons in this arrangement.
The Momoguns of Borneo in Sabah
The natives of Sabah include the Kadazans, Bajaus Sama, Muruts, among many others who are smaller in terms of population. The non-Muslim natives have become a minority group in Sabah. People from outside Sabah now outnumber Sabahan natives. It had been revealed that many of them were given or managed to obtain Malaysian citizenship through the back door.
Apart from the natives, the momoguns, Sabah has a fairly large number of Chinese. There are others such as Indians, and those whose ancestry are Indonesian, Suluk or Ibans. Ibans are indigenous to Sarawak.
The Momoguns of Sarawak
The natives or Momoguns of Sarawak include the Ibans (Sea Dayak), Land Dayak, and Melanau. The majority of Dayaks still live in long houses.
As there is a strict control on migration particularly of people from outside Sarawak, the momoguns of Sarawak are still very much in control of their future.
There is a fairly large number of Chinese living in Sarawak.
The Momoguns of Kalimantan
The majority of the momoguns of Kalimantan are the Dayaks which would include the Ngaju people and the Bentian tribe who are mostly Christians.
Now there is the presence of Muslim Madurese as the result of the Indonesian government plan on transmigration beginning in the 1930s. The introduction of other Indonesians from another part of Indonesia into Kalimantan caused tribal animosity which led to fights between feollow Indonesians resulting in many deaths.
The rights of Momoguns are being eroded
Almost everywhere in Borneo, the God-given rights of the momoguns are being eroded and trampled under foot. And there is not much they can do. They are left to fight on their own since not many among their local leaders are influential enough to change the way they are being treated.
Some many may have begun to think that fighting for their rights is a futile exercise. There is no one to whom they can turn for help. People from outside are not allowed to interfere. What more why should other countries be interested in helping them without conditions? Who would care enough to ensure the survival of these Momoguns? After all, who among the former colonial masters who benefited much from being in control of these territories in the past would care to spend money on a human enterprise that brings no reward of any form.
Only education can enable the Momoguns to improve their lot. But education is not available for everybody. And even if educational facilities are available, these may be too far away, preventing many Momguns children from getting any form of education even at the primary level.
These people may have to wait a long time. By then it will be too late.
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