Positive Activities to Improve Reputation of Jabung

Kompas/Vina Oktavia

Youths of Jabung district in East Lampung regency, Lampung, practice silat martial art, Saturday (8/4). Youth and district leadership figures have established the organization Ikam Jabung Sai to support the local youths. They have initiated various activities to restore the good name of Jabung. The high number of motorcycle thieves from Jabung arrested by police has given the region the stigma of being a major source of criminals.

The reputation of Jabung district in East Lampung regency, Lampung, as an area that produces criminals is irritating the locals, who are now carrying out community activities to restore the area’s reputation. They want to prove that the people of Jabung are not criminals.

One of the ways this is done is by fostering teenagers, as seen in Sanggar Seni Budaya Kumanggo Putih on Saturday night (8/4). As many as 20 teenagers from Negara Batin and Negara Saka gathered at the sanggar (traditional music and dance space). They practiced silat (traditional martial art) after playing football in the afternoon.

Accompanied by gamelan music, Erfan Kurniawan, 16, got up to demonstrate some silat moves. Wearing red silat clothes, Erfan’s hands and feet move swiftly to the sound of the music. Once or twice he would jump and roll over. Erfan’s silat attraction closed with him saying salam while squatting.

The Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 1 East Lampung grade 10 student came third in a recent Lampung silat competition. Erfan is proud to have won a bronze medal in his first ever silat competition.

Apart from practicing silat, the youths are invited to practice football and dance. They also engage in cooperation with other parties so that the young generation of Jabung can get entrepreneurship opportunities.

These various positive activities are done to improve the image of Jabung. Ibrahim, a local youth leader, said locals faced discrimination because of Jabung’s reputation as an area of criminals.

He himself experienced unpleasant treatment when he was caught in a roadside police check. Other drivers were only asked for their vehicle registration certificate (STNK) and driver’s license (SIM), but Ibrahim was asked to take off his shoes and socks. Every part of his body was checked, presumably because he was from Jabung.

The people of Jabung not only have to present their STNK and SIM when they go out, but also need to bring their vehicle ownership document (BPKB) when going out of the regency. This is done to deal with suspicious police officers. The locals understand that the many criminals that claim to be from Jabung have prompted law enforcers to step up inspections when they find out that they are from Jabung.

Hard to find work

Zainal Abidin, another community youth figure, said the stigma of being a Jabung resident made it difficult for locals to land jobs. Even though they had no criminal record, some locals have had to return to the village because they were rejected by companies.

The village does not offer many jobs, even though Jabung has two big companies in the cattle and mineral water industries. However, the two companies only open few work opportunities for locals.

“It’s very hard for the youth of Jabung to find work. Therefore, we have initiated cooperation with numerous parties. The aim is to create jobs,” Zainal said.

Three months ago, the traditional leaders, religious leaders and youths of Jabung held a meeting to formulate a strategy to recover the reputation of the area. This led to the formation of an organization called Ikam Jabung Sai (Jabung Unite) on January 29, 2017. The organization is not only run by the people of the village but also by Jabung residents that have been successful outside of the village.

“We are tasked with organizing various positive activities in the village. Jabung residents that work outside (of the area) help to find job opportunities for school graduates,” said Zainal, the deputy head of Ikam Jabung Sai.

The organization is cooperating with a number of parties. They have also been entrusted with seven goats from the national alms agency. The goats are placed in a pen and looked after alternately by 10 young men at Negara Batin village. When the goats start breeding, the youths will share the profit between them.

In Asahan village, the youths came up with the idea of planting forage grass. The locals have also prepared oyster, mushroom and fish-cultivation business partnerships. They have also organized a district-level football competition and started a mobile library. “We initiated various activities so that the youths can have positive activities,” Zainal said.

Prosperous area

The “dark area” stigma has come about because of criminals from Jabung arrested in other areas.

When Kompas planned its reporting trip to Jabung, numerous people issued messages of warning. Upon arriving in Jabung, it turned out that this district of 15 villages is not as frightening as people have described. Jabung is a prosperous area that preserves its cultural identity. The word Jabung comes from the name of a fragrant red flower medical plant (Alpine malacensis).

The road to Jabung is damaged and full of holes. However, upon entering the areas of Jabung, the typical Lampung-style houses on stilts are seen standing tall on the sides of the main road.

In 2015, when other some areas had no harvest due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, Tanjung Sari village in Jabung could harvest its crops, because it has a good irrigation system. The harvest was attended by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.

Kompas stayed at the house of a local, who explained that the female guests were advised to sleep accompanied by one of the girls of the house. Guests were also asked to report to the village chief.

Negara Batin village chief Mansyur Syah said arrested criminals may claim to be from Jabung, but that did not necessarily mean that they were originally from Jabung. He said that, because of the bad image of Jabung, every criminal from Lampung was assumed to be from Jabung.

Mansyur said he had on several occasions received a coffin containing the dead body of a resident shot dead by police for being involved in motorbike theft. Dozens of coffins had been sent to Jabung in the last ten years.

However, Mansyur rejected the idea that there was a regeneration of vehicle theft criminals in Jabung. No parents taught their child to become a motorbike thief or a robber, he said, adding that the crime potential of Jabung was a result of the influence of drugs and economic pressure. Criminals that were arrested or shot by police were mostly from poor families and involved in drug crime.

“We are working to improve the reputation of Jabung. However, we also need the support of a lot of parties, including law enforcers and the regency or provincial administration,” Mansyur said.