TUMBANG ANOI, GUNUNG MAS (Central Kalimantan): More than 5,000 Dayaks from several parts of Kalimantan, Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei Darussalam attended an international seminar and
expedition called ‘Napak Tilas Tumbang Anoi’ held in Tumbang Anoi Village, Damang Batu District, Gunung Mas, Central Kalimantan, on July 20-24.
Governor of Kalimantan Tengah (Kalteng) H.Sugianto Sabran officiated at the event.
The guests were invited to tour the Betang Tumbang Anoi house and entertained to traditional performances.
Among those present at the ceremony were Majelis Adat Dayak Nasional (MADN) president Drs Yakobus Kumis, Borneo Dayak Forum (BDF) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, regional leaders and Dayak
intellectuals.
The group from Sarawak was led by Mack Ginep and comprised Patrick Raymond Bang, Hendok Kuleh and Mike Bohan Siang. Chief coordinator of the event, Dr Dagut Djunas related the Dayak peace agreement named ‘Damai Tumbang Anoi’ signed among the warring tribes in 1894.
“Tumbang Anoi has become a historic place for the Dayak tribe because it was there the Dayak Tribe Peace Meeting and Agreement was held on May 22 to July 24, 1894,” he said.
The historic meeting was attended by about 1,000 people from 152 Dayak tribes on the island of Borneo, which covered the regions of Indonesia, North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and Brunei.
The meeting, among others, resulted in an agreement to end the dispute between fellow Dayaks and the tradition of ‘wiping’ or decapitating humans.
With the agreement, there was unity and brotherhood between the Dayak tribes who were once hostile to each other.
Sugianto in his opening speech said unity and desires of the marginalised Dayak groups in Borneo would be discussed at a seminar aimed at finding ways to bring the community into the mainstream of development.
“This activity is being followed by thousands of Dayaks from various provinces and throughout the world. Moreover, the peaceful meeting of Tumbang Anoi is now 125 years old,” he said.
Sugianto added that the meeting which took place in Tumbang Anoi village was considered very important because in 1894, Dayak leaders were able to agree on several matters despite pressure from Dutch colonialism.
“In future, the government must rethink it is time for Dayaks to take part in determining the direction and policies of development at the national level,” he said.
The event’s host, Bupati Gunung Mas Jaya Monong welcomed the participants, saying the programme (the Tumbang Anoi Expedition) should be appreciated by all concerned Dayaks.
Mack, who spoke at the event representing the Dayaks from Sarawak hoped that the Dayak community would be more united.
He suggested that there should a bigger gathering of such nature in the future to bring more Dayaks together to celebrate the occasion.
Mack said for the Dayaks to progress on a par with the other communities, the younger generation must have proper education. Public amenities and infrastructures must be developed to link rural Dayak communities to ensure they were not left out of mainstream development.
