BY STEPHEN THEN
MIRI: When the Baram Regatta first took place in the remote town of Marudi 106 years ago, it marked the end of the gruesome practice of headhunting and sealed a peace deal among dozens of warring ethnic tribes.
Today, Sarawak wants due recognition to be given to the event.
The state government is appealing to the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry and Tourism Ministry to recognise the regatta as a national event and include it in the national tourism calendar.
Marudi state assemblyman Sylvester Entri Muran said not many people were aware of the regatta's role in racial unification, seeing it only as a sports event.
“The Baram Regatta has tremendous historical significance because quote it was the event that marked the end of the tribal wars among the warring groups and stopped the practice of headhunting,” he said.
According to him, the first regatta was staged 106 years ago following a treaty signed by the British and all the warring tribes.
Through negotiations conducted by the then British district officer Dr Charles Hose and the tribal leaders, it was agreed that the tribes would use the regatta to challenge each other through river races instead of violent conflicts.
“The Baram Regatta is the mother of all regattas in Sarawak. It signalled the start of racial and ethnic unity and consolidation.
“The Government should give this event the recognition it deserves so that the present generation will realise how important it is,” Entri, also state Assistant Minister for Water Supply, said yesterday in an interview.
The first regatta was held in Marudi town (known as Claude Town during the British era) on April 9, 1899. It saw participation from thousands of natives who had previously engaged in violent confrontations over territorial rights.
As heads were considered trophies, the practice of chopping off the heads of rivals was common at that time.
Prospective bridegrooms also used headhunting as a way to prove their masculinity to women in their communities.
Entri said he had spoken with Tourism Minister Datuk Leo Michael Toyad on the matter.
The state, he added, had also invited Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to this year’s regatta, to be held on Sept 24.
The regatta is held in Marudi town once every three years. Various forms of river races are staged.
Marudi is located some 200km inland from Miri, and serves as the main transit point into the remote Baram district, the heartland of northern Sarawak.
Courtesy of The Star
No comments:
Post a Comment