Bagansiapiapi

Bagansiapiapi
峇眼亞比
Nickname(s): Siapiapi , Kota Ikan
Bagansiapiapi
峇眼亞比

Location of Bagansiapiapi in Indonesia

Coordinates: 2°10′N 100°49′E / 2.167°N 100.817°ECoordinates: 2°10′N 100°49′E / 2.167°N 100.817°E
Country Indonesia
Province of Indonesia Riau
Established 1800s
Government
Area
 • Total 940.56 km2 (363.15 sq mi)
Population (2010)
 • Total 82,500
 • Density 87.7/km2 (227/sq mi)
Time zone WIB (UTC+7)
 • Summer (DST) Not observed (UTC)
Website Bagansiapiapi Community website

Bagansiapiapi ( Chinese: 峇眼亞比; pinyin: bā yǎn yǎ bǐ) is a city in Riau province on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The city is the capital of Rokan Hilir Regency in the Riau Province and is located on the east coast of Sumatra, on the Rokan River delta across the strait west of Malacca and near Dumai.

History

The town was originally populated mainly by Chinese immigrants[1]:pp xii who arrived at the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th century. Initially eighteen Chinese nationals sailed to Bagansiapiapi around 200 years ago and settled on the delta. All were from the family named Hung (Hokkien) (Hong / Ang. in other dialects). More followed, searching for a new life and seeking to avoid the economic hardships prevalent in Hokkien (China) at that time.

Every year, the Chinese community celebrates the anniversary of Bagansiapiapi, on the 16th day, of the 5th month of the Lunar year, believing that the initial immigrant group landed at Bagansiapiapi on that day.

Most of the Chinese population are Hokkien, originating from Tang-Ua (TongAn, now part of E-Meng/Xiamen), Kim-Mng (JinMen/Kinmen), and Cin-Kang (JinJiang/Jinjiang). Some Teochew, living mainly in the southern part, and a minority of Khek/Hakka also populated the town. Most of Chinese population communicate using the Tang-Ua dialect of Hokkien.

Bagansiapiapi was one of the largest fish producers in the world during the late 1980s and early 1990s, ranking third in the world. Bagansiapiapi is also famous for swallow nest farming. Indonesia's bird's nests are famous for their quality and are well liked by consumers. This industry has led Bagansiapiapi into a new era of economic growth, involving investment, high activity in building construction and export growth.

In recent years, urbanization has been an issue. Most of the youth leave the town after high school to pursue a better life, or higher education in larger cities. They normally return for the traditional family reunion during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

The Bagansiapiapi incident

The Bagansiapiapi incident occurred seven months after Indonesian independence. The Chinese residents did not want to display the Indonesian flag, and a riot ensued in which one person was killed. Riots targeting the Chinese population have continued throughout Indonesia since.[2]

Fishing Town

Bagansiapipi harbour during Dutch East Indies administration

In the 1980s Bagansiapiapi was one of the largest fish producing towns in Indonesia, and the second highest producer of fish in the world, after Bergen in Norway.

The fishing industry started with the first wave of Chinese immigrants, attracted to the area by the availability of abundant fishing. The town's heyday came under the jurisdiction of the Dutch East Indies, around 1930, when the fisheries produced 300,000 tons of fish per year. The annual production has fallen since, being particularly affected by a collapse of fish numbers since the 1970s, by which time over 800 trawlers based in the town were fishing the Shunda Shelf.[3]:pp 41. The trawling ban in Indonesian waters, introduced in 1980, has had a significant effect on the economy of the town.[3]:pp 38.

Transportation

Transportation has been an area of concern for the government, as there is currently no airport. Bagansiapiapi is reached by road, being some 6 hours from Pekanbaru, capital of Riau, and 2.5 hours from Dumai. From North Sumatra and Medan the travel time by road is about 11 hours.

The local government has an ongoing policy of improving the town infrastructure, including the widening of roads and improving street lighting.

In June 2008, a new ferry line opened from Port Dickson, Malaysia, with a travel time of three hours.

Places around Bagansiapiapi

See also

References

  1. ↑ Daniel Pauly, Purwito Martosubroto (1996) Baseline studies of biodiversity: the fish resources of western Indonesia The WorldFish Center Retrieved 2010, May 19
  2. ↑ Aris Ananta, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (2003) The Indonesian crisis: a human development perspective pp 108. Aris Ananta, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 981-230-171-2 Retrieved 2010, May 19
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Geronimo Silvestre, Daniel Pauly (1997) Status and management of tropical coastal fisheries in Asia The WorldFish Center ISBN 971-8709-02-9 Retrieved 2010, May 19