Belitong, an island renowned for its iconic granite beaches and clear blue waters, conceals a deeper narrative of suffering and resilience, particularly among its indigenous community, the Sawang People (or Sea Nomads). Their story is a complex reflection of how historical exploitation and modern environmental threats create an invisible burden of intergenerational psychological trauma.
The dark history began with the discovery of tin in 1823 by JP. De La Motte, followed by the century-long domination of the mining industry by the Dutch company, Billiton Maatschapij. The legacy of this exploitation is not just an economic tale but the foundation of Structural Violence, where sociopolitical and economic systems systematically placed the Sawang people in a marginalized position. The Sawang, who are ontologically tied to the sea, saw their livelihoods destroyed by mining sedimentation, effectively preventing them from reaching their full potential as a maritime society. The failure of these structures to protect their traditional rights resulted in relative deprivation and fueled Learned Helplessness, making them feel they had no control over their destiny.
This suffering was compounded by Cultural Violence. The dominant narrative of modern Belitong often stigmatized their nomadic, maritime way of life as “primitive” or “backward,” necessitating “modernization.” This stigma, which is a form of hidden Psychological Violence, damages their Collective Self-Esteem and triggers Minority Stress. Pressure to abandon their language and rituals acts as Indirect Social Control, forcing individuals to choose between cultural integrity and social acceptance. For the younger generation, this creates identity dissonance, a significant psychological burden.
The psychological crisis is now intensified by a silent health threat: radioactive effects post-tin mining. Exposure to high levels of radiation from these elements can damage DNA and cause long-term effects, including cancer and, most critically, hereditary effects —genetic disorders passed down to offspring. The potential for these health hazards creates chronic Health Anxiety within the community, especially for expectant mothers and parents living near the mining sites. This is further validated by the fact that abnormal growth in Children with Special Needs (Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus) can be caused by the radioactive effects received by one or both parents. Data on (ABK) in Belitong Regency shows fluctuations, peaking at 305 students recorded in Special Needs Schools (Sekolah Luar Biasa) in 2021 , a number the researcher suggests could be higher than recorded, exacerbating the Internalized Fear due to data uncertainty.
Despite facing waves of structural, cultural, and psychological violence, the Sawang people demonstrate Historical Resilience. Their strong communal solidarity and persistent efforts to maintain their Sekak language and sea rituals serve as a powerful stress buffer, rejecting the internalization of stigma and reasserting the validation of their cultural identity as Orang Laut—a people fully deserving of psychological well-being. The Sawang narrative is a crucial reminder that true development must begin with healing the inherited trauma of its indigenous people.