The Story of a City: Sumatra, Indonesia

By Wombat | February 3rd, 2006 | 1 Comment »

Here is a delightful story I found about transmigration in the 1930’s from Java to Sumatra during the Dutch occupation. It’s the story of Metro, a city.

Metro, the story of a city

It was a Friday in 1936, April 3 to be exact. A large ferry approached the port in Panjang, Lampung. Hundreds of people soon began disembarking from the ferry, as several high-ranking Dutch officials looked on. The people were transmigrants from Java island who were coming to open jungle areas in Central Lampung.

Dozens of armed Dutch soldiers escorted and registered the new arrivals. After this short process, the transmigrants entered buses and were driven to the new settlements.

After a few hours on the road, the buses arrived in Trimurjo, some 10 kilometers east of Gunungsugih. With jungle all around, the transmigrants saw houses with walls made from woven bamboo. The houses were temporary shelters for the hundreds of transmigrants.

Over the course of the next two days, the Dutch officials gave them instructions on how the transmigrants should manage the land. They also oversaw the distribution of land and handed out farming tools, such as hoes, machetes, axes and other items. The transmigrants were also given housing materials such as woven bamboo and nails. After the administrative process was completed, the transmigrants began the arduous task of opening the jungle and building permanent homes.

Years later, this small community had transformed into what is now the city of Metro in Lampung province.
Some claim the name Metro came from the Javanese word mitro (partner), but another version is that Metro came from a Dutch word meaning center. The area today is at the heart of Central Lampung regency.

After the area began to develop, the Dutch colonial government built markets, health clinics, roads, dams and other infrastructure. Argo Guruh Dam still serves as a source of irrigation for hundreds of thousands of farmers in Central Lampung regency, East Lampung and Metro city.

Between 1945 and 1956, Metro was a district of Central Lampung regency. In 1976, it was named the capital of the regency. On Sept. 6, 1987, Metro was inaugurated as a township by then home minister Soepardjo Rustam.

After 12 years as a township, Metro became an independent municipality on April 27, 1999. Mozes Herman and Lukman Hakim, the son of Javanese transmigrants, were appointed as the first mayor and deputy mayor of Metro.

Now the city, which has a population of 152,440, is known as an orderly city, clean, secure and convenient, and has become a favored destination for people looking for a quiet retirement.

Lukman, who is now the mayor of Metro, dreams of one day turning Metro into the “city of education”.

“We are working hard to make that dream come true,” said Lukman.