Over at Global Surfers there has been a forum thread where contributors have been arguing over the involvement in the Mentawai Islands by Martin Daly and Rick Cameron, both surf charter or resort operators.
Martin is the owner of the Indies Traders, that famous surf charter and ‘exploration’ fleet. Recently Martin ‘leaked’ the ‘new Mentawaiis’ in the Pacific through an advertorial piece for a surfing site and magazine. See here. And he supports Surf Aid International.
Rick Cameron invests in various surf resorts, and runs Island Aid. Rick Cameron was recently threatened with deportation from Indonesia for visa violation.
Both the the Aid organisations have done fantastic work preventing and treating Malaria, and helping out after the Tsunami, amongst other initiatives. Please donate to both.
However, it is how the tourism and ‘colonising’ side of their interests are playing out that also interests many of us.
These two blokes condemn each other about exploiting the local population and the local ‘resources’. Mind you, Daly has taken his act around the world, all paid for by large surfing companies.The forum makes for interesting reading as two white fellas duke it out over their colonies.
I was swayed by this local contribution to the debate by Anak Kampoeng, which I might add, was ignored by the white fellas:
daly, you say my peoples “primitif” on tv news in padang. you break our law. you promis to give tax money to manland not to Mentawai island tax dipartmen. many of us look at you now. you lie to media. you lie to forum. we see who are you. now other member will see.
itu orang Mentawai … primitif sekali
(Those Mentawai people are very primitive)kalo itu orang liat kita, kita pikir kita orang Bule
(If they see us they/we? think we are Dutch foreigners)
dia bilang kita ….apa saja di sana dia belum mengerti kita di sana untuk apa.
(They say that we?…… whatever we are doing over there they (Mentawai people) dont yet understand what we doing or why)secarang kita masih ada industri pariwisata suda 18 taun semuah kita operasi disana
(Now we have a tourism industry for 18 years that we all are operating over there)
dan kita suda… kita suda banyak hati hati untuk itu yang orang Mentawai
(and we have become very cautious of them, the Mentawai people)
It is as if Mentawai people aren’t considered to have a valid voice of their own in this debate.
Then this:
KOMPAS TV NEWS
Called Primitive, Mentawai People Demonstrated
Rabu, 16 April 2008, 16.09 WIBOffended for being called “primitive people”, many people from the Mentawai Forum gathered to hold a demonstration, Tuesday (15/4) in Padang. The demonstration was held in 3 (three) places, i.e. Hotel Batang Arau Pelabuhan Muara Padang, the office of the Governor of West Sumatera and the office of Bureau of Tourism, Art and Culture of West Sumatera.
The people claimed that this was triggered by a statement made by Martin Daly, an Australian citizen, in the declaration of Association of Sailboats of West Sumatera at the Pangeran Beach Hotel last Monday. In the declaration, Martin called the Mentawai people “primitive”. Thus, they demanded him to apologize.
The people also requested that the Regional Government revokes Martin Daly’s sailboat license and deports him to Australia as soon as possible. Riots started when one of Martin’s foreign staff met the people, but was more peaceful after the people were granted the opportunity to convey their protests.
Again, this was not addressed as the two groups continued to duke it out. And the locals are continually referred to throughout the debate as ‘local puppets’, as if they have no will or rights of their own.
Yet of course, everyone is concerned about the Mentawai People, or are they? Who is speaking for whom? Whose interests are really at stake? Who really gets the benefits?
Finally, Anak has had enough:
Surfers wanting uncrowded waves and people wanting to make some money?
Who’s driveing the bus ?
Martin, You have driven it and picked up alot of surfers on the way and droped them off to the right stop at the right time, happy punters all round, agents, staff, suppliers in Padang and Indo.
Rick, Looks like your driving the bus now and you have picked up the Mentawai Goverment and are driving them where you think they should go!!
Maybe the Mentawai people and Govt should have a turn at the wheel with NO western influence, build a resort/ losman to there own safety standards and requirements as they feel, and are familular with for the past hunderds of years and bring in the bussiness that they are use to dealing with.
On ya Rick for up-ing standards of the resorts and ensureing they have a tusnami run away plan. Maybe it’s best to be on a charter boat where the run away plan is already half active.
Saying the local losman is not a safe place to stay, priceing the islands out of our local dreams and trying to close down the loacal bussiness.
If you want to make a 90% discount at the resorts for Indo people? bring it on.
But we don’t want any charter boats out there cause they don’t help the Mentawai people in jobs or life.
In Playgrounds there is 8+ resorts/losmans most of which are western owned
Telescopes zone has got 6+ resorts/losmans.
Katiet has 3+ and so on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of beds ( lots of surfers )
Some of westren resort owners have got 2 resorts and a charter boat!!!! Now thats greedy aye Rick45+ charter boats, 200+ indo crew working on the boats but thats not helping the Mentawai people, just alot more surfers.
The problem is to many greedy surfers wanting all the waves to them selfs!!!
Thanks for taking the time to comment Rick, and clear a few things up. It is very appreciated.
“The image you have posted is copyright to Mentawai Sanctuary”. I have corrected this by replacing it, thanks for your kind offer anyway. Thanks for letting me know. I was unaware and apologise.
I didn’t want to take sides in the debate, and simply wanted to remind people to listen to the locals as well. I will leave it for people to research and make their own calls on the issues.
I have to say, it is pretty extraordinary someone is threatening to physically harm you and has in relation to all this. It is unforgivable, and can never be justified.
“I have not been deported and am not being deported.”
We are thankful for that, and glad this visa business was sorted and you get to stay in the region and keep your work with Island Aid going.
“an association of unlicensed surf charter boat owners. They raised over $60,000 last year to campaign against the Mentawai Governments’ legislation”.
How representative is the local government? I would hazard a guess far more representative of the local population than these boat owners.
Money continues to speak above all else, I guess. So does intimidation. Hopefully you can continue to resist such brutality.
Stuff I have been thinking about in relation to all this:
What investment opportunities are available for the locals in these land camps? And how are they being included if they do not have cash to invest? Is there an “in-kind” involvement/investment qualification in place?
What transparency is there regarding the investment by foreigners in the land camps and their claimed outcomes for the locals? It remains somewhat hazy.
It seems to me that there is an urgent need to be an inquiry, and an independently researched process of evaluation established. This evaluation should be enforced for operation to be sanctioned by the Mentawai people representatives.
I might just add that operators in the area might consider a not-for-profit model based on “Social Enterprise”, whereby all profits reinvested into the community.
Social enterprise key goals include collaborative leadership and management interventions to promote, support and enable effective social change in the local community by the local community. Social enterprise is all about being accountable, transparent, progressive, sustainable and effective.
Or is this too ‘radical’ a consideration?
To: Mr. Rick Cameron,
My name is Aim Zein, I am an Indonesian Citizen and I am the chairman of West Sumatra Boat Charters Association (WBC/AKSSB)
I am also the vice chairman of Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry West Sumatra Chapter.
Your comments about our association (WBC)in Internet is really annoying. You mentioned that WBC is an unlicensed surf charter boat owners organization. It is a serious matter. You accused our organization was paying for press releases, and that is a very serious problem. We will report it to the Press and Government about your statements.
WBC/AKSSB is a legal and formal organization. Registered at Notary and Government. Inaugurated by the Governor of West Sumatra. You are very wrong and so unprofessional by saying negative things about a local Indonesian organization in its own country. It reflects your negative character.
In fact and in reality, as we read in all local and national newspapers that you are the one who was deported. The Immigration Office clearly stated that you are deported because you dont have Working Visa here. The Government did not extend your Working Permit. It means that you are just a normal tourist now. We also read in Newspapers that somebody who did not like you was breaking your neck.
We dont need to tell everyone what kind of reputation you have here in Indonesia with all of that records.
Mr. Cameron, we dont have any business and we dont have any interest with you. We request you, from now on to stop all the lies you spread around in Internet and write an apology letter to our association with cc to the Local and National Press. We are documenting all your lies in Internet for Legal Action we take later.
If you have personal problems with other individuals then it is yours. Do not relate your problems with our organization. You don’t need to gain sympathy by pointing finger to another parties.
Again, we remind you that you are having a serious problem with local tourism stakeholders, press and government. We are expecting for your apology as a gentleman.
Regards,
Aim Zein
Chairman of WBC
West Sumatra Boat Charter Association.
Dear Mr. Cameron,
Thank you for your reply and we accept your apologize. Of course I don’t mind to talk to tourist
I’ll be happy to have a positive dialogue with you but please stop those non sense emails to our members. We all know about what happened and again your case has nothing to do with us.
If you see something is wrong, why dont you just bring it directly to the court instead of creating stories or unclear dialogues with no ends ?
It was just and input from me. Last, my position as chairman of AKSSB is as a professional like my other jobs. Please do not mix your personal case with our professional business.
Welcome back and I hope you enjoy your stay in Indonesia. Many beautiful places to visit here.
Aim Zein
Dear Rick,
At the moment I have no interest to discuss anything with you or anyone else about your case. I have no time for that because too many activities right now. I hope you can settle down your cases.
Regards,
Aim
Incredible stuff Rick.
As I have mentioned elsewhere, it makes my head spin. There do seem to be a lot of contradictions flying around. As you say: “an overbearing tyrant” one minute and the next an “abject bankrupt failure”. hmmm. It sounds like emotive claims than a thought out response. And to be expected considering how much people have invested in the region – time, effort, money, friendships, belonging, family, rights, etc.
When I was in Indo last week I was talking to a bloke who knows M very well. The claim was that you took a pretty big dive when he “touched” you on the shoulder. There were also concerns over M’s bike accident and a conspiracy theory. Another ex-pat shrugged and said it is all about who gets to collect the taxes for Jakarta and that no longer seems to be you, it’s “that simple” he said.
It occurs to me that there are a lot of people out and about singing a different tune to you, and support for your version of events seems to be quiet at this point. That is, besides the dissemination you are getting via the interweb.
That said, it’s crucial that the surfing public is getting to hear the various takes on things, I reckon. Yours and those opposing you, and everyone in-between. But a resolution will be a long way off with a court case and the emotion that is imbued in what has happened and what will happen. Could you ever go back to the Mentawaii given the emotion and threats and what has gone down?
This is a fundamental unraveling of how surf tourism/colonisation unfolded in the Mentawaii. It’s worth pursuing a reasonable debate and discussion of all this, but also of surf tourism as it is being played out in general. It would be pretty lousy of us as surf tourists, travelers, or whatever of us to allow such a debacle to play out again without saying anything and consuming ethically in response.
I will try to contact Jess Ponting and Ralf Buckley regarding contribution to the discussion. Both of these blokes have done in-depth research into surf tourism in the Mentawaii and other places. Neil Lazarow who researches surfing and commercial impact on areas may also be interested.
I have to say, what you are providing is a very rare insight into the realpolitik of surf tourism today. Disturbing, to say the least. But bringing together, in a reasonable manner, all the real experiences as they intersect and are aired can possibly lead to something decent coming out of what is a pretty sordid colonising tale to date. Unfortunately people are going to suffer in the meantime. I hope all this toing-and-froing isn’t affecting your health.
***
If anyone is interested: some reading I am doing to discursively sort things out in my head regarding the bigger picture:
Augustin, Jean-Pierre (1998) ‘Emergence of Surfing Resorts on the Aquitaine Littoral’ in Geographical Review, 88(4).
‘The genesis of a sports tourism activity-surfing parts one and two’ by Steve Poizat-Newcomb in the Journal of Sport & Tourism; January 1999; Volume 5 No. 4
Behavioural market segments among surf tourists: investigating past destination choice’ by Sara Dolnicar; Martin Fluker in Journal of Sport & Tourism, Volume 8, Issue 3 August 2003 , pages 186 – 196
Surf tourism and sustainable development in Indo-Pacific islands: I. The industry and the islands. Buckley, RC. (2002), Journal of Sustainable Tourism
Surf tourism and sustainable development in Indo-Pacific islands: II. Recreational Capacity Management and Case Study. Buckley, RC. (2002), Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 10, No. 5, 2002.
Lazarow, N. (2006) The value of coastal recreational resources: a case study approach to examine the value of recreational surfing to specific locales
Pingback: Surf Tourism Debate « Kurungabaa
Clifton, What is amusing to me is that when I first started out developing in the Mentawais the independent boat operators were screaming that I was going to “pave paradise” and build at every break…. now they are screaming that I have not developed enough. It seems that whatever I do is not good enough for them so I have learned to ignore all that kind of talk.
The stuff that I wont tolerate is posts that mention the names of my family members and accusations of the worst kinds of crimes against children, stealing aid money, being a wanted criminal in Australia and owing investors millions of dollars. Nobody would tolerate those kinds of lies being spread systematically in writing to Government officials and the media. Of course I am going to unleash my legal team on scum who posts this kind of libelous filth or any forum owner who tolerates posts like this in direct contravention of their own terms of use.
I think Jerone at GlobalSurfers has shown himself to be completely confused and naive about the legal obligations that forum managers need to understand. Either that or the big boyz got to him. He is openly supporting those who attack me now so I guess we will let the public decide. RealSurf have held their line on banning material and members who are clearly being malicious. This website is doing a fine job so far giving both sides a chance to speak (as real people) and bringing the focus back onto the issues rather than straying off into character assassination and abuse.
I’m speaking for myself in these debates and not for the legitimate industry. The industry speaks via the MMTA but I’ve spoken out to give the surfing public my side of a very dirty little war that is being waged here in Padang more than in the islands. I think the term “surf colonialism” is accurate when applied to the independent surf charter boat operators. They are behaving like true colonial pirates with very little if any respect for local communities. They have tried their hand at playing with local politics and have made a total hash of it.
As for the expats comments, what can I say? The guy who talked about collecting taxes for Jakarta is so out of touch that even my detractors would laugh at his take on things. As for conspiracy theories about what went down in the bar in Padang, all I can say is wait for the court to decide what happened. And this guy seems to think I am some kind of superman who can arrange for people to get drunk and drive at high speed into the back of parked cars? If he believes that, he will be keeping out of my way for sure
What a drop-kick!
The truth can never be arrived at by a count of hands. If you want the truth behind what has been going down here, please hold your line and it will be revealed in the goodness of time. There is a lot I am not able to discuss until after the trial but I can say categorically that:
1) I have never been deported from Indonesia
2) I have no criminal record anywhere
3) I am not bankrupt
4) I am not being pursued by debt collectors anywhere.
5) I have not “left” the Mentawais and have no intention of leaving.
6) Our businesses are alive and well
Real people who would like to dispute any of these points are welcome to do so here or at our new “surfindustry.collectivex.com” site. They will need to ID themselves just as they do here.
Thanks
Rick
Pingback: Fighting over the Mentawai: Mark II « Kurungabaa
Rick,
Politics is never clean, and it seems what is going on around the Mentawai Islands lives up to that reputation. B
The Realsurf crew are fine moderators. I have been learning from them. As far as Global Surfers goes, it is not a forum I take part in.
“I think the term “surf colonialism” is accurate when applied to the independent surf charter boat operators. They are behaving like true colonial pirates with very little if any respect for local communities.”
To be honest, I think it is a case of colonialism by all operators. The resources and communities are leveraged for financial gain that by and large leaks out of these communities, yet they sustain the radical cultural changes that ensue. Unless an operation is wholly run by an indigenous community and the financial gain and otherwise of their resources remains within their communities I am afraid that it becomes colonial by nature and definition. Of course, this varies along a continuum.
“The truth can never be arrived at by a count of hands. If you want the truth behind what has been going down here, please hold your line and it will be revealed in the goodness of time. There is a lot I am not able to discuss until after the trial”.
I appreciate you taking the time to keep us informed of your take on things. Hopefully the court reports become available.
NB. I have posted some excerpts and thoughts about what I am finding out via research through peer-reviewed journals. Such journals and writing have a criteria that means people must research and support their claims in full, and have no commercial influence.
The definition used for colonialism is too overarching and general. It need not be so grand. Resorts make gains from local resources, in fact they turn the environment into a resource through their very aims and logic, an environment that would not have been a resource prior, and which does not need to be. As they do they influence economic, familial, etc aspects of the communities they come into contact with. A change occurs but one which the local indigenous population had no choice in (even though they may now). As I wrote, this of course varies along a continuum. Anyway, it is not up to us to decide whether we are colonisers or not, that is a decision for the indigenous peoples to decide.But lets not get bogged down in semantics.
nevertheless, i take your point about the different approaches between the charter boats and the resorts though.
I am going to stick with the Anak quote. It is from a forum and there is no way to prove authenticity. Further, nothing incriminating is said and it is the issues that arise around local voice that interested me in it.
Well, I just finished reading the Global Surfers thread at http://globalsurfers.ning.com/forum
The documents and arguments there provided by “Kake” are very convincing.
be specific?
The fact that it links to a site that says you are bankrupt here in OZ
How were these requirement arrived at Rick? And did the local indigenous community help draw them up?
One of the things about requirements and licensing such as this is the importance of evaluation and policing of them. Does an independent party regularly evaluate whether tourism operators comply with the requirements, where does that evaluation go? Is it publicly available and translated for the indigenous community to respond to and comment on?
As far as the colonisation point goes: law in developed countries protect government and individual rights, to a degree. [I am sure the indigenous population of Australia - or any nation - has real problems with that point I just made]. I can see how the requirements you outline aim to reckon with possible colonisation claims and consequences, which is admirable.
However, while such requirements are in place it can seem like only rhetoric and bureaucratic paperwork unless a substantial evaluation and honest policing of them is carried out (by an independent party and reported to the indigenous population/representatives); including renumeration for local community. An open and transparent evaluation would seem the most ethical way to go. I am sure this is a point we both agree on.
I can see how you might get frustrated with the boat charters considering their mobility and offshore status can enable them to avoid such regulation because they are not static and located strictly in a particular community or strictly on someone’s land.
While Peter has not given his name I will ask the question too:
What of the link to an Australian Government site that says you are bankrupt here in OZ? Although, I hasten to add that bankruptcy does not exclude someone from operating a business overseas and need not be a slight on someones character. Sometimes businesses and finances go belly up due to reasons beyond a person’s control.
“Quiksilver just sacked their GM and they lost $600 million of their stockholders money but I dont see the surf media investigating the Rossignol deal with any real enthusiasm. Some of the biggest companies on the planet have gone bankrupt recently taking billions of pensioners life savings with them over the past few months… why would my miniscule tiff over an accountants bill be newsworthy?”
Very good point.
Thanks for your honest response. Please note, that I did qualify the question when I asked it. So no offence intended. I have clearly stated in my comments that you are very qualified to discuss this stuff, I do not see how you could not be after 20 years in the region. While people may be violently opposed to your views everyone should get a voice, solutions come out of dialogue. Or maybe I am very naive, considering the politics in the region.
And I do not think anyone is a good judge of lawyers. Or lawyers aren’t good judges themselves
“And I do not think anyone is a good judge of lawyers. Or lawyers aren’t good judges themselves”
Yes but it is lawyers who become judges. The law is a weapon and a tool for those who learn how to use it. Everywhere.
Just found this one and it cracked me up:
Since its 1999 launch in Cairns, Australia, (T)Rader has located and surfed 115 world-class waves and called at ports in the South Pacific, Indonesia, the Maldives, South America and the Caribbean.
The goals of the boat (according to the OC-based Quiksilver) are to find surf, contribute to the environment, educate the public, and—my favorite—“have empathy for the local culture and customs.”
It’s like StarTrek’s prime directive. (Ed: and about as real folks)
ELIZABETH KHURI – Orange County Weekly 7th July 2007
Rick,
It would be best if you lay off the attacks as well, because otherwise it comes off as the pot calling the kettle black in regards to slandering. As you wrote yourself:
“Lets stay on thread and talk about surf tourism in the Mentawais …”
I will have a read of your responses to my questions, they are pretty comprehensive (although, again, they include slighting other organisations/groups when that is not necessary to make your points).
I think it is possible for you to publish documents and note where they are from, and let people make their own judgments on them. Commentary from you like the following are unnecessary:
“Quiksilver is actually proud of having strip mined the Mentawais for the past 15 years… ditto Bong, Rip and Hurl & Rust”
Publish the Vision and Mission of the AKSSB, but trust us as readers to interpret it ourselves, unless you are setting the context. Discussing the role of surf companies in the industry in the Mentawai is of course valid.
“Clifton, are you saying that you think it is ok for Code name “Kake” to publish lies about me but that it is NOT ok for me to publish PUBLIC DOMAIN documents about the AKSSB and the big surf companies?”
This was not implied or stated.
To be honest, there is no debate going on here. I have insufficient knowledge of the situation to debate you. It is pretty one-sided traffic, so as much as possible it would be best to stick to stating facts unless any accused can defend themselves. If we don’t do this the thread could come across as a Rick Cameron rant/whinge/propaganda.
Perhaps you can inform us, without having a dig, and then it doesn’t look like that and we get a valuable insight into the machinations of surf tourism in the Mentawai.
Clifton,
I’ll leave the MMTA to post the AKSSB documents. Both are Indonesian associations.
You and I were certainly debating if resorts or boats of both were guilty of surf colonization in the Mentawais. You did ask me to respond to your very reasonable questions and so at that point this thread turned into more of an interview. That is fine with me. Lets switch between a debate and an interview as you wish. Lets look at my statement about “strip mining” the Mentawais (for images and videos) and look at what the big 3 are saying in their own words:
Quiksilver: This unique access and logistical support has enabled our athletes and photographers to create movies and marketing material which have been broadcast via print, DVD and TV shows worldwide. While our products and brand have been marketed in this manner, the Mentawai Islands have also been presented in this positive imagery along side Hawaii and Tahiti.
Hurley (Nike): Since 1998, I have visited the Mentawais aboard charter boats that are members Of WBC. Usually I visit twice a year. My company has done video and photo shoots during these trips with great results.
Rusty: We use photos and video footage of the trips to tell the story of every surfers dream: surfing uncrowded perfect waves. These images are run in magazines around the world and on the internet. The images are used in feature editorial articles along with advertising. These images reach and touch millions of surfers.
Surf advertising is driven by images….stills and videos of pro surfers on perfect waves. The big companies need a fresh supply of action images and videos every few months…. to generate billions of dollars in sales. They mine these in Mentawai day in, day out.
By definition, the members of the AKSSB fleet (8 foreign owners) dont have registered Marine Tour companies or licensed boats and they dont pay taxes or the overheads that the legitimate resort+boat industry has to bear. Please feel free to ask other licensed operators.
In my opinion this is grossly unfair competition and it means that the unlicensed boats can either undercut the legitimate industry or take out much bigger profits. It also means that they give back almost nothing compared to what is expected, even demanded, of the legitimate operators…… let alone what the legitimate operators give over and above taxes, fees and admin costs in community support. This adds up to about 25% advantage to the unlicensed boats.
Clif, what is the difference between this and the BIG BOYZ complaining about the print shops that produce rip-off Tshirts, board shorts and accessories.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
Clifton, I have also read Rick’s BS on global surfer and realsurf, and when it didn’t go the way he liked, he turned on the webmaster.
Make sure you stay friendly to him, or his lawyers are going to be sending you messages.
Rick have you read the book ” can’t you get along with anyone?” from A. weisbecker?
Thanks for the caution Peter. I am trying to keep things on an even keel, even though I am terrible at knots.
Rick,
After reading those quotes by the surf companies I do not see much. They are carefully worded public statements made by some marketing/pr person to be as general and unaffecting as possible. A common tactic by companies. In this way the companies can claim that they are outside politics, which of course they are not; consider where these comments have been printed and what they actually do in the region.
NB. I am not a fan of these companies you mention anyway, so I am biased. I find that they too often excuse themselves from ethical and political considerations, even though they now endeavour to accommodate people who would question them with things such as ‘greenwashes’.
In regards to this:
“Commission A has the job of drawing up tourism legislation and also evaluating the implementation of legislation.”
Like in Australia, I wonder if the local people feel apathetic towards such organisations because these local people still feel at some distance from the real machinations of power. Also, I would think that when the locals vote for regency representatives they would be voting in regards to immediate concern about other issues, and I hazard a guess lower down the list from health, education, familial alliances, and housing would be the tourism evaluation and process – if it is at all on their radar (even though all these issues are interrelated).
“Consultation with stakeholders and communities is the job of the parliament and they have special “Commissions” with designated responsibilities. Commission A has the job of drawing up tourism legislation and also evaluating the implementation of legislation.”
This appears to be at some remove from the voting process. And I hate to say it, but corruption is a real issue here. Also, I do not think that consultation with stakeholders and communities should be solely the job of the regency parliament considering they are consulting etc. on a vast range of issues. Independent eco-tourism principles and public evaluation should be invoked by operators not because they are ordered to by some regency government, but because it is the ethical thing to do when using someone else’s resources to make a profit. Such evaluation can be done in DIRECT contact with the local community.
I always worry about palming off responsibility for evaluation and legislation to government organisations, who, I might be under-funded and have far too much on their plate, which is normally the case. It too often means the evaluation gets lost in bureaucracy and lacks micro-management.
Further, I am guessing that not many indigenous locals would be familiar with the tourism and management discourse we are speaking here and that would be bandied about in the corridors of power. And that is where power really lies, in the discourses that can be disseminated and which dominate conversation, and who gets access to them and can inform them directly. This is why the debate on the interweb and in the press has been centred around arguments between yourself and the MTAA. To date, I have still seen no evidence of conversations or records of evaluations and surveys of the local population most effected.
“(this is a pretty antiquated blog interface guys… how about an upgrade to wysiwyg?)”
… because we are a bunch of volunteers putting this publication together (supported only by other generous surfers), and we have no tech volunteer. In other words, I wouldn’t know how
Clifton,
The Mentawai government asked the industry to establish an association to assist with implementation and community programs. The MMTA was inaugurated on Dec 6th at Simakakang Island in Mentawai. The entire industry were invited (not one member of the AKSSB showed up) and a wide range of issues including consultation with communities near surf breaks was discussed. Transportation is the key to doing anything in Mentawai. Everything is so hard to reach. There are four main groups of islands that stretch over 280nm and only about 20km of paved roads. To get from the airport to the capital you have to take a speedboat. Fuel has quadrupled in price and getting around is very very expensive. Population density is so low that public transport is running at a loss and it is slow and downright dangerous. Private outboard powered dugouts are the normal way everyone gets around and they are death traps.
So in a perfect world all your ideas could be implemented but it will take time and funding and the industry itself will have to put all this together. Who else is going to do it? What we have is a very new regency that for 32 years of pre-reformasi got almost zero infrastructure in return for billions of dollars worth of timber flogged. They have a long way to go to catch up and there is tension between the mainland politicians and the island administration that dates back to well before the islands were granted Kabupaten status.
Please remember that the surf resort industry has to follow the rule book and there are a staggering number of rules and regulations. Kilos of paperwork and endless reports to multiple agencies. It is a big overhead. Then there is the responsibilities that resorts have to the villages nearest them. This is never-ending and impossible to budget for.
The conflict in the Mentawais that has surfaced recently in the attack on me and the media blitz by the unlicensed boat owners is NOT about boats vs resorts. That is just smoke and mirrors. The legit surf industry all own boats and came from a charter boat background. The real issue is that the surf resources belong to the Mentawai people and the Mentawai people have a parliament and elected leaders. Their tourism legislation is law but it is very very difficult to police because of the remoteness of the surf breaks.
The independent (unlicensed) boat owners refuse to work under the regulations and simply run like pirates dodging patrols and paying off anyone that gets in their way.
In my opinion the first priority for oversight in the islands is not community consultation.
It is regulation of the industry. The independents run a covert operation with the public endorsement of the the BIG BOYZ and that stinks.
Instead of respecting the laws of a foreign land, the independents are trying to dominate politics and have the laws changed for their personal benefit. While the BIG BOYZ press releases are innocent sounding when read in isolation, they are in fact supporting a group who flaunt the law and act like buccaneers. They support a group of foreign boat owners who’s stated aim is to have the Islanders legislation revoked and modified to suit their “surfin’ lifestyle”. In short, the Mentawai people and their government are getting in the way of these guys having fun and making money doing it.
So who is corrupt? The legit industry or the pirates?
Oh and tell Peter to read Allan’s book himself before he recommends it to me
Rick,
Why is it that you seem to be online everywhere trying to manipulate the media about Martin Daly, and put yourself forward as the saver of the Mentawai people?
I saw you on realSurf before the audience turned against you, same thing happened on global surfers, you seem to be online all day trying to find a place to spew on Martin, don’t you have a surf business to run, you think all this “trouble-in-paradise” is doing the Mentawai tourism business any good?
Can’t you just provide a better service than Martin and his mates do, and get him out of business that way?
Before you throw verbal abuse at me: I am retired, don’t have to work anymore, so have plenty of time. And unlike you i don’t think there’s a mass conspiracy against me. See Weisbecker in his book also thinks that that is the case with him, that’s why I recommend the book.
Clifton, It seems you are arguing for the surf resort industry to self regulate and arrange for 3rd party oversight BEFORE the rebel independent fleet follows the existing regulations? You must be kidding!
Peter whatsaname, I have not thrown verbal abuse at you or anyone else on any of the forums even after I’ve coped all kinds of unmoderated mudslinging. Fear not old fella.
Please buy some eyeglasses and then go back and READ this thread.
It seems that you have not understood anything that has been discussed to date. How can a regulated business ever compete with an unregulated one. This kind of unfair competition is not tolerated in Australia and why should it be tolerated in Indonesia? We all know that there is a “black” economy selling drugs and stolen goods out there but are you seriously suggesting that the Mentawais deserves illegal tourism in place of illegal logging?
Peter noname, think about what you have just written…. you are saying that I am manipulating the media about Martin Daly?
Have you read the “Keeping Secrets” thing? How about “Steady Hands Steering in Mentawai” …. I can’t afford to spend tens of thousands of dollars to pay for advertorial but that is not a problem. I’ve competed with Daly without it for 15 years and we are going fine thanks. What I raised is the linkage between these articles and a serious campaign to undermine new legislation and to wipe out my business and deport me from Indonesia. How do you suggest I deal with that brand of “market forces”… business as usual?
Come on fella, you are wearing the pirate eye patch me thinks…
So you got half of the surf industry against you?
Maybe you should start thinking about why that might be.
They want a positive image, not a ‘surfer’ that lies on a foam board that spends all day whining online about a conspiracy against him, making up stories about ‘breaking his neck in an attempt on his life bogus story’ and showing this to the online world
Yeah, lets stick to the topic. Personal attacks are not what we need on this thread. And unfounded claims. Lets rise above that. Peter, we are familiar with the points you are making, but lets go somewhere new and help us debate the issues about how the tourism industry works in the Mentawai. Personal politics do nothing to help look for ways forward and for finding models that most benefit the Mentawai people and those working there. What do you know of the industry and how it could operate better?
I am having trouble getting onto the MMTA site. I will be back when I have read their strategies and planning.
Man, the server hosting the MMTA site is s.l.o.w.
My impression after reading it is the following:
Comment removed due to notice of legal action if comment not retracted (The request was in Indonesian so I have done my best at translating and interpreting it myself).
Well, the first thing is I am allowed an opinion. I wrote “my impression …” You seem to have plenty of opinions and no qualms about going to many surf forums to let people know about them.
You have a habit of threatening participants and forum moderators and hosts. And now you want to do it here as soon as I disagree with you. Peter did warn me. *sigh*
I wrote about the MMTA and not you Mr Cameron. I have heard nothing from the MMTA members to explain things to me, just you again. And you said you do not represent them and that your comments are your opinion only.
I quote:
“I am speaking for myself and not for them (MMTA) or the Mentawai people etc.”
Now you “demand” an apology for me expressing my impression of the MMTA. NB. But you do not speak for them. (your point)
You have gone on to attack me personally (“Judge Evers”), something I did not do to you. I wrote what my impressions were about an organisation after reading their website. I did not claim the points were facts or mention personal names or anything of the kind. Just as you often express your opinions and impressions about the AKSBB and as you write: the “BIG BOYZ”.
The credibility you say Kurungabaa lacks is a bit rich. The discussion has taken place in the comments section of this blog, Kurungabaa has not published any of this.
This has been a discussion between you and me. I am not Kurungabaa just as you are not the MMTA (Again, I remind you, you clearly pointed this out).
The documents you have asked me to read were inaccessible from here. But I will endeavour to download them again and read them.
As far as an apology goes there will be none. My comment was a personal impression, nothing more and nothing less. If the MMTA would like to issue a statement explaining their position I would be happy to put it here and take their position on board.
I do not care for being involved with you following the comments you have made, and the aggression that your writing and approach carries, and implies.
This discussion and this thread are over.
Good luck working it all out. I am sure people have once again taken notice of how another forum/thread discussion involving Rick Cameron has ended.
goodbye.
Clifton.
Nama Saya NASDION CHALIDI,SH,M.Kn, selaku Ketua Dewan Penasehat MMTA (advisory Board)
Agar jangan ada pemahaman yang salah tentang Asosiasi Pariwisata Bahari Mentawai( Mentawai Marine Tourism Assosiation)dan aktifitasnya, maka saya merasa perlu untuk menjelaskannya dalam kesempatan ini, yaitu sebagai berikut :
Bahwa Mentawai Marine Tourism Assosiation (MMTA)adalah organisasi kemasyarakatan yang dibentuk berdasarkan kepada Undang-undang Nomor.8 tahun 1985;dan pembentukannya didorong oleh Pemerintah Daerah Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai sebagai implementasi dari Peraturan Daerah(Perda) No.16 tahun 2002, tentang Pariwisata dan Retribusi.
Bahwa dalam Perda termuat ketentuan-ketentuan yang mengatur tentang pariwisata di Kepulauan Mentawai, termasuk Pariwisata Bahari, diantaranya adalah sebagai berikut :
1. Bahwa bagi pelaku usaha yang akan melakukan kegiatan usahanya dibidang wisata bahari di Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai, harus terlebih dahulu mendapat izin Wisata Bahari dari Bupati Kepulauan Mentawai;
2. Bahwa setiap Perusahaan yang mendapat izin Wisata Bahari tersebut, hanyak dapat mengoperasikan kapal maksimal 6 (enam) unit;
3.Bahwa setiap “Perusahaan” yang telah mendapat Izin Wisata Bahari tersebut, diwajibkan membayar Retribusi kepada Pemda Mentawai, untuk setiap tamu sebesar US $ 3 (tiga US Dollar) /perhari;
Sampai saat sekarang jumlah Perusahaan yang telah mendapat Izin Wisata Bahari dari Pemda Mentawai baru 5 (lima) Perusahaan, yaitu 1.PT.Mentawai Wisata Bahari, 2.PT.Saraina Koat Mentawai, 3.PT.Bintang Samudra Mentawai,4.PT.Internusa Bahagia, dan 5.PT.Bangun Toro Koat.
Peran MMTA dalam “pemerintahan” khususnya Pemda Mentawai, adalah sebagai Mitra Pemda dibidang Pariwisata Bahari, dan hal ini telah dituangkan dalam dokumen tertulis, yang ditandatangani oleh Pemda Mengtawai dan MMTA.
Jadi isu-isu yang mengatakan MMTA memungut Pajak untuk kapal yang melakukan aktifitas wisata bahari di Mentawai, adalah tidak benar, yang terjadi adalah, ada diantara ~Perusahaaan yang telah mendapat izin tdersebut diatas, masih memungkinkan untuk menoperasikan beberapa unit kapal lagi, karena belum mengoperasikan jumlah kapal maksimal atau belum cukup 6 (enam) unit kapal, dan Perusahaan tersebut memberi peluang kepada pemilik kapal untuk bergabung dengan perhitungan tertentu (bisnis), hal ini tidak dapat diartikan perusahaan memungut pajak kepemilik kapal.
Dapat kami tambahkan , bahwa Mr.Rick di tunjuk oleh PT. Mentawai Wisata Bahari (PT.MWB) mewakili perusahaan sebagai anggota di MMTA, karena jabatannya di Perusahaan adalah Marketing Manager.
Dapat kami tegaskan sekali lagi bahwa :
1.MMTA adalah Asosiasi Wisata Bahari di Mentawai yang pembentukannya didorong oleh Pemerintah Daerah dan Undang-undang No.8 tahun 1985.
2.MMTA sebagai organisasi terbuka bukan tertutup,dan mempunyai anggaran dasar yang telah didaftarkan ke Notaris, dan Asosiasi memenuhi semua ketentuan sebagai organisasi kemasyarakatan.
3.MMTA mempunyai kepedulian kepada masyarakat (Comunity Development) sebagaimana hyang tertuang dalam Anggaran Dasar MMTA.
Oleh : Nasdion Chalidi,SH,M.Kn
Kepada Yth.
Mr Clifton Evers,
Bahwa saya sebagai Ketua Dewan Penasehat (Advisory Board)MMTA
sangat terkejut dengan pernyataan saudara tentang MMTA,yaitu saudara menyatakan :
1.MMTA disetir oleh sdr.Rick;
2.MMTA dapat untung besar dan tidak ada pesaing (monopoli).
3.MMTA memungut pajak.
Karena saya dalam kesempatan ini telah menjelaskan segala sesuatu tentang MMTA, maka saya harapkan saudara mencabut pernyataan tersebut diatas, agar tidak menjadi masalah hukum dikemudian hari.
Wassalam,
Nasdion Chalidi,SH,M.Kn
Nasdion,
Thank you very much for taking the time to comment. Unfortunately, I do not read Indonesian. I will try to get a translation and take your advice and statement on board and review my impression of MMTA accordingly.
I also do not write Indonesian, and am sorry this message is in English.
I have closed this discussion due to the actions of Rick Cameron, who you know very well (you have the same ip address) and both are members of MMTA.
Take care and best of luck in your endeavors.
Clifton.
Yth.Clifton Evers
Saya sedang berada dan mempergunakan computer Kantor PT.MWB, karena disamping saya Ketua Dewan Penasehat MMTA, saya juga Lawyer PT.MWB, dan kebetulan kami sedang membahas pernyataan saudara,disebabkan isi pernyataan saudara tersebut mempunyai dampak hukum pada perusahaan wisata bahari di Mentawai, termasuk diantaranya PT.MWB.
Wassalam.
Nasdion Chalidi,SH,M.Kn
Rick, I have received more comments from you. Please do not comment any more, your comments will not be published. I advised that in the previous comment. Continue the discussion at your forum.
As far as the offending post goes I have replaced it with the following:
Comment removed due to notice of possible legal action if comment not retracted
(The request was in Indonesian so I have done my best at translating and interpreting it myself. I worked out that there was reference to retraction so that the matter did not involve the law).
Regards,
Clifton.
Nasdion,
I now understand that you are a lawyer and work at MMTA with Rick Cameron. Please see the above: the offending opinion has been removed.
Regards,
Clifton.
Hmm, the pattern continues.
More legal threaths and insults to webmasters from Rick.
Which website is next?
Rick Cameron: I’ve been on the advisory board of the MMTA at various time … along with Adam Bray, Sebastiano, Tom Plumber, Mark Loughran, Jordan Heuer and other expats involved in the industry.
__________________________________________________
Rick,
I am not nor have ever been on the advisory board of the MMTA. I did organise a meeting in 2005 at the Bumi Minang Hotel of all resort operators. Attendees included Christie, Jordan, Un, Mark Loughran, Ray, Martin Bray. Every operator/owner of an active resort up and running in the Mentawais at the time was represented. The no was specific agenda apart from being able to sit and begin to discuss positive ways forward on a level playing field. Sometime after that the MMTA was born and we never had another meeting following the original format because it appeared the play field was no longer level.
Please don’t use my name to prop up your arguments for the MMTA. Besides if I was an advisory board member you’d surely know how to spell my name?
Thanks
Tom Plummer
Thank you for clearing that Up Tom.
Since this discussion is closed in relation to the Mentawai Surf Development go to
http://globalsurfers.ning.com/profiles/blogs/we-found-them-virgin-and-let
for a comprehensive summary, by an observant scientist following the issue while working with Mentawai communities, of the politics involving Rick Cameron online, in press, and most importantly in Padang and the Mentawai. The summary covers events up to 22/01/2009.
Rick Cameron’s comments were deleted because he threatened and harassed myself. There is no place for his propaganda and politiking in Kurungabaa. Over.