The special gift” for the One Century Anniversary of Jayapura – Port Numbay

feest hollandia 50 jaar ,1960

feest hollandia 50 jaar ,1960

The special gift”

for the One Century Anniversary of Jayapura – Port Numbay

Since the first time when the Dutch colony raised the three-color flag on march the 7^th 1910 in Numbay, which was led by Captain F.J.P. sachse, from the infantry corps, who then named the city to be Hollandia, based on its geographical site which is laid bent along the gulf. Based on its old map which is printed in 1960s, where we could see the city was developed widely that it reached Hollandian Binnen (now Abepura), so that we could see the rivers flow from Cyclop mountain to the shore along Youtefa Gulf, such as; Acai river that flows to Abenan, in Youtefa Gulf. So does the rivers in Entrop (the location of Papua Trade Center – PTC, now), which is gathered in sago and mangrove forest that covered abour 9000 hectares of that location. At that time, this sago forest was the source of food for the native people of Tobati, Injros, Kayopulo, Kayobatu, skow, Nafri, and some local people that settled along that area, such as those who came from Yapen Waropen, Biak, Mollucas, and some other regions. Just like the rivers we have mentioned above, Anafre river, Nubay river, and some other rivers are the rivers with the source of their water from Cyclop mountain, which flow to the shore of Youtefa Gulf, Imbi gulf, and Yos Sudarso Gulf. These rivers produce lots of plankton to the sea too, where it is the very good food for many kinds of fish aroud those gulfs, and this natural happenings became a special support for the local people who earn their basic living by being the fisherman. This way of life was also figured out on the ornaments of their traditional houses, and some cultural motives. To appreciate the historical and cultural value of the Tabi tribe which was the essential element of the establishment of Hollandia, the Hollandia government blessed the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of Hollandia by publishing a book entitled: Ein Gouden Jibeleum 50 Jaar Hollandia, van 7 Mart 1910 tot 7 Mart 1960.

In the beginning of 2010, exactly in one month before the celebration of one century anniversary of Jayapura, it gives a special blessing for the artist of advertisement makers to get a great blessing, it is licenced officially by the mayor of Jayapura City, who signed the letter of obligation for all people of this city decorate the city, as a sign of the commemoration of the anniversary of this city. By the spread of this city, it seems like the people started to get to know that there is a celebration of one century anniversary of Jayapura city. The lack of people’s knowledge is caused by the lack of local content education of the history and cuture of this city. Even so, the top agenda of this commemoration celebration is done together with the commemoration of the spread of gospel in to the Clan of Tabi land, which was commemorated on March 10^th 2010, as it was adjusted with the history in Metudebi – Youtefa gulf. On that commemoration, there was a great kind of appreciation and sympathy, which is done by rowing the traditional canoe from Sowek – Supiori Regency, while carrying a torch, as the symbol of light of the world. To complete this celebration, there was a christening ceremony of the gospel statue in Metudebi island, even there were no tombstone for the names of those who bring the gospel in to the island. This thing might be able to be answered by reading and understanding a book entitled “Seratus Tahun Baptisan di Metudebi” – (One Hundred Year Baptism in Metudebi), written by Rudy Mebry. To support the great willing of the local people to have their own church, so the local people tried to do their own movement on developing their own church, and it has already been christening on the right a day before the gospel day celebration, that is on March 9^th 2010. Five day after the christening ceremony of the church there were 100 hundred people were christening too, and there is a great expectation that they will continue this religious life of ours. Moreover, to make it clear, everything happened in the past has become a special note for us in form of question such as; do we as the people who live in the era of integration with the Republic of Indonesia, have a willing to keep the existence of the identity of this city? Because unconsciously, we our self who have destroyed this city. It has been proved and cannot be denied again that there has been an environmental degradation happened around this Youtefa gulf, while we know that there laid the entrance gate of the history of this city. Related to our characteristic that just came and stay without having any sense of care of this environment, while we have a lot of genius people to think and work together to make this city becomes a barometer of good environmental friendly among other cities in Papua. Is that enough for us to put a lot of letters signing welcome to the one century anniversary of Jayapura, infront of the public places? Can we start to think simply by thinking “ is that easy to throw our garbage? And if it is easy for us to throw our garbage anywhere, is that easy for us to take it back and place in the right place again? We all know tat the topography of this city makes the stream can easily flows to Youtefa gulf. The natural system of ocean stream can make the garbage thrown into the sea can easily flows back to the shore when the high tide happen. There is no data about the polluted area of this Youtefa gulf which is made by the government department of environmental analysis. Is this a kind of the way the people of Port Numbay to struggle for their live, or it might be a kind of special gift for the one century anniversary of Jayapura that is given by them???

This young mangrove tree is struggling to grow because it is laid up on the plastic garbage, and cannot stick its roots in to the mud. The coral reefs cannot take its breath anymore because its water is polluted. The shelfish are poisoned in the water life reservation area which is stated in the Government law of the Republic of Indonesia, article 26, 2008. Is this picture can just decorate your living room???

By his picture, you have already enjoyed the beauty of this place, and it can even give you money if you sell this picture, but what have you given to this place? It is more than the young coconut that you eat in skyline and throw the pipe down the valley, to ignore its beauty?

But there is still an appreciation for the creation of making a longest Papeda (sago porridge) for 380 meters long, which is cooked by a group of Papuan Young Men, to feed about 6000 people in the celebration of the One Century Anniversary Jayapura. We hope there were announcements about garbage management, but may be the stake holders have not been thinking for that. Thank you Sirs, that is the garbage that you have given to this city, such as; liquid and solid garbage. Save The Port Numbay Green. Wanyambey!

(Andre Liem,translated by John Hallatu).