Around October 2011, Riko along with 15 other OMPS “proclaimed” the establishment of a farmer’s organization in Loncek. I attended the occasion as a facilitator to support them with organizing their ideas and vision. Members of this organization were youth who were also forest foragers. In total there were 15 people — 10 men and 5 women. People and elders who were present that night had doubts about Riko’s and his friends’ movement.
“Paling-paling ga’ angat-angat tahi manok” blurted someone. (Literally “as hot as chicken shit, at best”, an excitement that does not last long),
I turned my head, trying to locate the faint voice amidst the noisy generator that lit up our lights that night. Despite 68 years of Indonesian independence, Loncek was still not important, enough as a market for PLN, the State Electricity Company.
I only recognized one or two people among them from my rst visit three weeks earlier to this village. So we started with introductions, as agreed, stating ours names rst, then education and our jobs. I was rst, followed by other meeting participants. “I am Herpina, finished primary school only. I tap rubber during the day.”