Local Perception for Mining Cement: Case of Study - Cement Mining

Conflict in Rembang Central Java Indonesia

Sidik Puryanto

, Dewi Liesnoor Setyowati

and Muhammad Jazuli

Student Doctoral Social Studies Department At State University Of Semarang

Lecturer And Professors Doctoral Social Studies Department At State University Of Semarang

Keywords: perception, conflict, deep knowledge, widespread conflict

Abstract: This study reveals about the public perception of cement mining in Tegaldowo Village, Gunem District,

Central Java, Central Java. This research uses qualitative phenomenology approach with qualitative data

analysis. The results of this study reveal that the perception of society is divided into three main points of

opinion, from people who agree to mining, disagree mining and silent communities. The conclusions of this

study indicate that each perception has a different way of obtaining it. Differences of perception determined

by how knowledge is owned. The depth of knowledge determines the size of how to measure perceptions in

order to avoid misunderstandings in interpreting a perception, and then does not cause an increasingly

widespread conflict.

1 INTRODUCTION

Referring to the statement of Pruit and Rubin stating

that conflict is a perception that is used as an interest

that affects both individuals and groups. Perception

differences are the basic source of conflict, either

personally or as a group. Suharko discloses that

differences in perceptions create friction interests

between communities who disagree with cement

mines in Pati Central Java with governments and

communities that agree with cement mining.

Differences in perception led to conflicts of

cement factory in Pati from 2009 to now, because

each group still tends to use perception to make their

interests, whether perception about social culture,

economy, and environment. Perception building is

influenced by the dynamics of knowledge about

mining and how the changes produced by a national

and international mining.

The perception of the Pati community in

rejecting the cement plant mine in the Kendeng

Mountains is sticking to the public because there is a

relationship between Samin community groups who

are still firm with the ideology which states that

agriculture is the dominant source of life, and it has

become the inheritance principle of its ancestors. In

other words perceptions about mining that can

damage nature and the environment as a source of

their livelihood that is as a group that relies on land

and water for the sustainability of his life.

Socio-cultural perceptions are also a source of

conflict, as research by Maria and Devuyst suggests

that the source of mining conflicts in Africa is due to

the perception of local people who still glorify their

original culture (paternialistic) so it is difficult to

accept something new that is mining . Ngadisah also

mentioned that one source of mining conflict in

Papua is mining which is a source of new culture

can not be accepted by the local community of

Papua (indigenous people). The mining conflict in

Papua is widening and growing due to differences in

perceptions among each group or tribe.

The sociocultural perception that is the source of

conflict is also mentioned in Silaen's research

(Silaen, 2006), which states that the conflict and

then developed into a social movement in Porsea

North Sumatra is caused by the perception of the

indigenous social culture of the indigenous people in

maintaining their ancestral heritage to avoid

changing hands to a particular company.

The destruction of nature and the environment

becomes another perception as a source of mining

conflict. that perception is a social development that

is known by the community self-taught and has

factually influenced his thinking about the impacts

of various mining companies that caused damage to

nature and the environment (Garibay, Boni, Panico,

Puryanto, S., Setyowati, D. and Jazuli, M.

Local Perception for Mining Cement: Case of Study - Cement Mining Conﬂict in Rembang Central Java Indonesia.

DOI: 10.5220/0009024800002297

In Proceedings of the Borneo International Conference on Education and Social Sciences (BICESS 2018), pages 613-617

ISBN: 978-989-758-470-1

613

Urguijo, klooster, 2011; Oetami, 1997; Yurida,

2006). The destruction of nature and the

environment has been a source of great influence on

the process of agricultural life that has been a legacy

of ancestors until now, and should be maintained in

order to reach the point of maximum sustainability,

and not destroyed.

Another perception is that there is no link

between mining and the economy, because the

Samin people argue that in the absence of

agricultural mining will be able to support in their

economy, and not because of mining . Economics

for society Samin is considered not to sacrifice

nature and the environment, but it must all be

nurtured, cared for so that will produce various types

of natural wealth. For the Samin community,

economic success is strongly influenced by how

good interaction between nature and humans, and

how to manage the land resources very well in order

to produce something useful for life.

The presumption of spiritual values becomes a

perception that influences the view of mining.

mining is regarded as a new cultural production,

which in its mines certainly will eliminate the old

cultural values, the majority will reduce the

civilization of the original color of the group that is

always faithful to the provisions of ancestors, which

is always keeping and caring values in accordance

with the original. Attempts to preserve spiritual

values are the measure of society in rejecting the

kind of modernization that brings new cultures and

new values.

2 RESEARCH OF METHOD

The method used in this research use qualitative

phenomenology approach with case study. Sources

of data used are qualitative data, namely primary

data and secondary data. (Creswell, 2009) Primary

data were obtained from in-depth interviews,

secondary data from various print and online media.

The question indicators are the reason to reject the

mining of the plant based on the knowledge

possessed by each respondent. The selected

informants used selective random, ie selecting

informants consisting of community leaders,

community, religious leaders, and social movement

figures. The analysis used this research is using data

reduction, data presentation, then concluded.

3 RESULTS

3.1 For Knowledge based on Histories

The mining industry in general will provide a choice

of opinion for all circles both from academics,

practitioners, activists, government, corporations,

and society at large. Agree and disagree always

coloring in every process entry of mining in a

region. Differences in views or perceptions arise

because of differences in knowledge resources that

are owned by someone. Thus in a democratic

country perception or view is lawful and

permissible.

Communities that agree with mining have

consideration in the economic need, and it is

assumed that mining can meet the needs of life.

Economics is considered very important, and

dominant in a life. The necessity of economic

gratification has become a positive paradigm and is

trending in the global economy. Among the right

decisions in choosing a new economic source by

approving mining are satisfaction of welfare.

Economic prosperity is the only measure of the

happiness of life.

In contrast to the views that do not agree and or

less agree with the mining industry. Knowledge that

is believed to be a benchmark in rejecting plant

mines is knowledge based on experience, and comes

from revelation. Experience becomes knowledge

that is assumed to be certain and can not be denied,

and it is real. The experience of local communities

surrounding cement mining is strongly influenced by

some of the fever inflicted or the impact of small-

scale mining prior to the entry of the cement

industry.

Small quarries in the area of cement plant

exploration sites have emerged since 1996, and have

grown to dozens of mining companies in the present.

The impacts are caused by various factors, such as

environmental damage, air pollution and noise

(noise), flood, and behavioral factors from other

people who only gain profit regardless of the values

of harmony.

The behaviors displayed by some members of

the dominant community are carried out by village

officials, both from the village head, and other

members of the government, who deliberately use

the opportunity of mining companies to deceive,

deceive and remove land that has become the

property of the community culturally. Even some

communities receive threats and verbal intimidation.

The experience of the mining community

indirectly creates knowledge that chooses to reject

BICESS 2018 - Borneo International Conference On Education And Social

614

the entry of a cement mining company in practice in

the sale and purchase of land using the methods

previously performed by unscrupulous people. The

experience of environmental impacts creates a

variety of knowledge speculation that large-scale

mining will undoubtedly undermine the living

ecosystems that have been lived for local people

whose ancestral heritage makes land and mountains

one of the largest productions of agriculture.

Agricultural outcomes achieved by local

communities are far from lacking, and they are

considered to be sufficient for all basic needs. Thus,

with the presence of a cement plant is considered to

actually eliminate abundant agricultural products,

due to the increasingly narrow land and feared will

reduce the water discharge as the main source of

agriculture. Although agricultural products are not

dominant in paddy fields, but if agriculture

accumulates abundantly from the production of

maize, cassava, chili, tobacco, and other crops. The

yield of corn farm is calculated to get 15 million per

hectare, while tobacco can reach 70-100 million per

hectare (depending on season).

Agricultural products obtained not only from

privately owned land, but also obtained from the

lease of the land of perhutani around the mountains

Watuputih which is the location of the establishment

of a cement factory. The more abundant the

production of agricultural produce is increasing the

prosperity of society increasing. Abundant

agricultural products in addition to being supported

by the level of soil fertility, also supported how the

local community expert to become a superior

agricultural expert and superior.

The bad environmental experience of small-scale

mining companies in the Tegaldowo Gunem

Rembang region of Central Java Indonesia became

the main icon of the reason for rejecting large-scale

mining companies, due to social-cultural linkages, in

order to maintain the agricultural beliefs that are

inherited by values his ancestors, due to the cultural

heritage of agriculture all the economic needs can be

fulfilled well.

3.2 Knowledge by Intuition

In addition to knowledge-based experience, in

rejecting the mining cement factory is also done

intuition (wahyu). Knowledge of intuition as done

by local people in Watuputih Mountain area

Tegaldowo Village, Gunem District, Central Java,

Central Java is done by building confidence that

comes from local and national religious leaders

(kyai) and spiritual figures (dukun). Intuition is the

goal of making an action to be sanctioned or

approved by the image of the two figures, which is a

representation of the source of faith.

Another consideration is the characteristic of

Javanese culture that is still very thick with the

magic world makes the opinion of the character has

a spiritual power that is considered capable of

resisting all forms of doubt, worry and also provide

the value of steadiness and immunity.

The belief in the spiritual values of the two

figures, the movement in rejecting the cement

mining has not stopped until now. How to increase

the power of faith in spiritual values is also done on

any given day, and at the time will be held the action

of the movement always held rituals in the tomb of

pepunden representation of the ancestors of local

communities. The perception of common interests

and common goals to avoid the destruction of

ancestral heritage land becomes integrated with

ancestral beliefs by performing these ritual activities.

A female represented female action coordinator

was quoted in a conversation stating that before the

action of rejection, first sowan (coming) to religious

leaders (kyai) in order to get advice or advice related

to the cement factory in their neighborhood.

Factors that cause the emergence of intuition in

rejecting the cement factory is preceded by the

different views expressed by religious leaders (kyai)

in the environment of Rembang. Differences in

views of religious leaders create dilemma and

anxiety from lower societies, and expressed in an

attitude to remain firm in accordance with their

beliefs.

Perceptions that began with a sign of indecision

arising from differences of religious leaders who are

representations of God, it creates a polemic that

confuses the public. Not getting enlightenment and

explanation from the government, instead polemic

proceeded to take advantage of political

opportunities made by certain people.

3.3 Differences of Opinion from

Religious Leaders Tend to Give

Confusion and Inspire the Spirit to

Reject the Cement Plant

The views of several national-scale religious figures

in Rembang who differed on the establishment of a

cement factory, some figures hinted at support and

some figures based on rejecting the cement plant,

raising several interpretations of the opposing group

of people. Some even declare critical of them,

although still in sanepo but critical language is

meaningful very hard.

Local Perception for Mining Cement: Case of Study - Cement Mining Conﬂict in Rembang Central Java Indonesia

615

The counter-group community from the

beginning before the action of the movement is

always raw to some religious leaders, to ask for

suggestions, opinions, and wisdom, asking about

what if the action in refusing to be implemented,

how the impact, and how the solution. It was as if

religious leaders were the place of consideration, a

place of discussion for cement factory counter

before doing any action.

For the people of Rembang in asking for advice

and discourse to religious leaders is not something

new, in addition to Rembang is a santri city, also

because their religion justify that religious leaders

are often a role model, role model in every action

and also has a very high religious knowledge,

because as a strong believer, everything must be

based on the religious views derived from a kyai.

Religious figures for people who counter cement

factories also have value values miliearinism, or

spirit of Imam Mahdi, a strong spirit derived from

religious leaders, in other words religious leaders is

a symbol of truth, justice, prosperity for the

universal people. In seeking a truth, justice in the

view of miliearinism is on religious leaders. So,

when the religious leader says that a it is said to be

true, then the value of the generated spirit is

remarkable.

The encouragement that comes from the value of

truth from religious leaders will be widespread and

tend to be easily accepted by society in general.

With slogans defending the truth, justice, even some

supporters say they dare to sacrifice their lives for

justice and truth, because they assume that the

cement plant will bring misery, harm to the

surrounding community and the future of society,

the spirit of movement is still emitted today.

Although the views of some religious figures

differed in the presence of the cement factory, it

actually gave a new spirit, to prove that what is done

by the counter group based on basic human life

principles, namely truth, justice to what they have

been experiencing. The experience experience they

see is an unbearable fact, injustice, unrighteousness,

received into a whip for the inauguration of their

critical thinking. Critical to government, critical of

religious leaders, and critical of other pro-society,

and who do not give any opinion.

3.4 Differences of Academic Views

against the Knowledge of Society

Starting from the opinion of expert geologists of

geologists by saying that the karst stretch of

Rembang does not include protected areas, which is

protected karst Sukolilo area, Mount Sewu and karst

Gombong area, and at the same time stressed by

saying that karst karst area into the category of

young karst, so that does not become a problem if

used as a mining area. Socially with the construction

of a cement plant has a significant positive impact,

people can work in factories, so that unemployment

will decrease.

Based on scientific data, expert opinion has a

strong foundation in making a study of geological

analysis, but for the community it has a different

understanding, because the real meaning is still

natural (experience). Certainly the views of experts

are very intersect with their experiences and beliefs,

both from the context of the earth, social and culture

The community then creates a new opinion to

rationalize the problem from different views of

academicians to assist in increasing the exclusion of

the movement, and they remain grounded in experts

with similar views to their experiences and beliefs.

4 DISCUSSION

Differences in perception are the initial factors in

each of the differences, because each individual

person has different perceptions parallel to the

knowledge they possess. The public perception in

rejecting cement mining in Tegaldowo Gunem

Rembang has similarities with the perceptions

expressed by Pati, Grobogan and Blora communities

in rejecting the cement plant to be built in the

Kendeng Mountains region, which is perception

based on life principle and experience. Expressed in

Suharko [13] that the socio-cultural society of Samin

group in Pati rejects all forms of mining due to the

impact of environmental damage. Environmental

degradation can lead to the destruction of

agricultural patterns that become heritage heritage

cultures. The public perception of Samin in

responding to mining has nothing to do with the

economy, because the Samin group is prosperous

about agricultural life. The equality for the people of

Tegaldowo Village in refusing cement plant

exploration with no economic problems, because the

agricultural produce they produce is always more

and sufficient enough to meet its basic needs. The

same pattern of not using economic reasons is done

by Tegaldowo Gunem Rembang villagers in

rejecting cement mining in contrast to research

conducted (Maria, Devuyst, 2011; Regadon, 2009;

Bainton, 2013; Sethi, Lowry, Veral, 2011).

BICESS 2018 - Borneo International Conference On Education And Social

616

5 CONCLUSION

Public perception is largely determined by the

experience and revelation it has. The rural

community within Tegaldowo village of Gunem

Rembang District still has the classic characteristics

of acquiring knowledge, based on magic or mistic

factors. The belief in the mystical becomes an iconic

for the village community in general, thereby

reducing the scientific. Scientific is considered a

thing that is still vague, and confusing. The

perception in rejecting the cement plant in

Tegaldowo Village, Gunem Rembang District, is

influenced by two sources of knowledge, namely

experience and intuition. The reason for the rejection

is done until now because of the persistence and the

absolute belief that comes from these two

knowledge.

RECOMMENDATION

Each perceptions has truth, but when it come another

truth it should be respect and accept it. it should be

demand for other people to do, so dealing and peace

will conduct.

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