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| Dr. (H.C.) Drs. Cornelis, M.H . Source: https://kalbarprov.go.id/pub/images/20160407232257-Foto.JPG |
“Silence Is Death!” – Identity Politics and the Struggle for Natural Resources by Cornelis
Background
Ahead of the 2nd National Congress of the Ikatan Cendekiawan Dayak Nasional (ICDN) - National Association of Dayak Intellectuals, which will be held in Pontianak on May 19, 2025, senior Dayak figure and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the PDI-P faction, Dr. (H.C.) Drs. Cornelis, M.H., issued a strong call for urgent action on identity politics and control over Kalimantan’s natural resources (Cornelis, 2023a; Lensalandak, 2025).
In his academic oration, Cornelis voiced his deep concern: that the Dayak people, rightful heirs of Borneo, are now spectators in their own land. Borneo's natural wealth is being continuously exploited by external actors, leaving the local communities in the grip of structural poverty (Bibliopedia, 2023a; RSIS, 2018).
Research Objectives
This report aims to:
- Analyze the core ideas presented by Cornelis in his oration.
- Highlight the inequality in natural resource control in Kalimantan and its impacts on the Dayak people.
- Map the Dayak struggle as conceptualized by Cornelis.
- Formulate the strategic role of ICDN and Dayak intellectuals moving forward.
Key Findings
1. Dayak Identity and Natural Resource Control
Cornelis emphasized that Dayak identity should not be reduced to mere cultural symbolism. Identity politics, he argued, must become a tool of resistance:
- To reclaim customary land and ancestral forests, now largely controlled by corporations.
- To resist a new form of economic colonialism that marginalizes indigenous communities (Cornelis, 2024a; GIJASH, 2018).
“We are not colonizers in our own land. We are the rightful owners. But if we remain silent, then this land will truly slip away from our grasp” (Cornelis, 2024b).
2. A Select Few Enjoy the Resources
Cornelis criticized the fact that Kalimantan’s natural resources are enjoyed only by a select few—some Dayak elites who have compromised with political or corporate powers—while the majority remain marginalized:
- With limited access to quality education.
- Excluded from a fair economic system.
- Losing dignity and control over ancestral land (Kompasiana, 2022; Bibliopedia, 2023b).
3. Three Arenas of the Dayak Struggle
Cornelis identified three key arenas in the Dayak struggle:
- Reconstruction of Identity: Deconstructing colonial narratives that label Dayaks as “primitive”.
- Natural Resource Politics: Regaining ulayat rights seized in the name of investment (Cornelis, 2024c).
- Honor: Seeking dignity not through pity, but through rightful recognition and control over resources.
4. Facts finding
Kalimantan's Contribution to National Revenue
The island of Borneo makes a significant contribution to national revenue, particularly from the following sectors:
1. Mining: coal, oil, and gas.
2. Forestry: timber, rattan, and non-timber forest products.
3. Plantations: especially palm oil.
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| The infographic shows the imbalance in the flow of funds between Kalimantan and the capital (Jakarta). |
Data from the Directorate General of Fiscal Balance (DJPK) of the Ministry of Finance (2022) notes that the Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) from natural resources in East Kalimantan reached IDR 50 trillion in 2021, not including exports of palm oil and other non-oil and gas mining products.
Funds Returning to the Region: Too Little
Despite its large contribution, the funds that return to Kalimantan amount to only about 20-30% of the total amount deposited, in the form of:
1. General Allocation Fund (DAU)
2. Special Allocation Fund (DAK)
3. Revenue Sharing Fund (DBH)
According to a study by INDEF (2021), this scheme does not reflect fiscal fairness, as it does not adequately represent the real contribution of each producing region. This means that 70-80% of Borneo's wealth is used for the development of other regions, especially Java.
5. Critique of Intellectual Elitism
Cornelis cautioned that ICDN and Dayak scholars must not isolate themselves in ivory towers:
- Intellectuals must “descend the mountain,” work with communities, organize grassroots movements, and develop excellent Dayak human capital (Cornelis, 2023b; Pontianak Post, 2025).
- Education, he argues, is not just a tool for social mobility, but also a political weapon.
“Being intelligent is not enough—we must also be courageous!” (Cornelis, 2024c)
Analysis
Cornelis’ speech can be read as a counter-narrative to the dominant economic-political structures draining Kalimantan’s resources. He calls for a shift in paradigm: from passive to proactive, from submissive to empowered (RSIS, 2018; Prayeh, 2021).
However, this speech also opens a critical conversation about segments of the Dayak elite who benefit from natural resource extraction without advocating for fair redistribution to wider indigenous communities (GIJASH, 2018).
Conclusion and Recommendations
Cornelis is calling for structural transformation. “Silence is death” becomes a metaphor to reject collective apathy. Key recommendations include:
Recommendations
- ICDN must establish a center for advocacy of indigenous rights and natural resources—not just academic research.
- Dayak education curricula should include political identity and agrarian struggle.
- An independent audit of natural resource management in Kalimantan must be carried out with full participation from indigenous communities.
- Dayak human resource development should focus on rural villages, not just cities.
- A new mapping of customary lands and ancestral forests should be conducted using technology and with formal state recognition (Lensalandak, 2025; Cornelis, 2023a).
References
DJPK (Direktorat Jenderal Perimbangan Keuangan), 2022. Laporan realisasi transfer ke daerah dan dana desa tahun anggaran 2021. Jakarta: Kementerian Keuangan Republik Indonesia.
ESDM (Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral), 2022. Statistik Batubara Indonesia 2021. Jakarta: Pusdatin ESDM.
GIJASH, 2018. 'The Customary Land Rights in Indonesia: Legal Status and Challenges', Global International Journal of Arts & Humanities Studies, 6(2), pp. 22-34.
Harcourt, B., 2005. Ecology and politics of land use in Southeast Asia. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Harrowitz, D., 1985. Ethnic groups in conflict. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Hall, S., 1996. Cultural politics: Identity, ethnicity, and nationalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
INDEF (Institute for Development of Economics and Finance), 2021. Keadilan fiskal dan ketimpangan wilayah. Jakarta: INDEF.
Kahn, J.S., 2015. Culture, identity, and politics in Indonesia. London: Routledge.
Kompas, 2022. 'Yansen TP: Kalimantan harus menjadi tuan di negeri sendiri', Harian Kompas, 15 Februari.
Litbang Kompas, 2022. Ketimpangan fiskal antara Jawa dan luar Jawa: Evaluasi 20 tahun desentralisasi. Jakarta: Harian Kompas.
Putra, Masri Sareb, 2021. Drs. Cornelis, M.H. Motivator & Pemimpin. Jakarta: Penerbit Lembaga Literasi Dayak.
RSIS, 2018. 'Forest Politics in Indonesia: Decentralization, Resource Rights and Power', S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Report. Available at: https://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/forest-politics-indonesia (Accessed: 5 May 2025).
Spivak, G.C., 1988. Can the subaltern speak? New York: Columbia University Press.
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