Kinseng, Rilus A.
"
ABSTRACTThe objectives of this study are to investigate class structure, class consciousness,
class formation, and class struggle of fishers in Balilcpapan as well as factors affecting
these phenomena. Basically, this is a qualitative study.
The study found that class stnxcture of the fishers in Balikpapan has not been
simplified to become two great hostile classes, namely bourgeoisie and proletariat. On
the contrary, class structure of iishers in Balikpapan has developed to become more
complex. Now, there are four classes of fishers in Balikpapan, namely the capitalist, the
labour, the small fishers (petty bourgeoisie), and the intermediate/medium fishers. Class
relation between labour and owner of the means of production here is quite unique.
Unlike in industries in general, relation between labour and owner here contains two
dimensions, namely the exploitative dominative and the patron-client. This ?two
dimensions? pattem of class relation is also found between the tishers (especially the
small and the intermediate classes fishers) and the merchants.
Class consciousness and class formation of the labour have not been developed
yet. In other -words, so far, labour class exists only as a class in itself, not class for itself
Factors affecting labour class consciousness and class formation are iiagmentation of
labour, high class permeability, labour?s dependent on the owner, lack of leader, lack of
common problem, and the share-system (not wage). On the other hand, small and
intermediate classes fishers have already developed class consciousness as well as class
formation. The most important factors contribute to this fact are the present of ?big?
common problems over and over again, as well as the present of active and vocal leaders
among them. The capitalist class of Fishers has not developed class consciousness and
class formation.
In line with the lack of class consciousness and class formation of the labour,
class conflict between labour and owner has never occurred. Conflicts between labour
and owner only take place individually, not as a class. Form of individual labour struggle
are grievance, questioning, ?protest", and quit. On the other hand, small and intermediate
class fishers often carry out a class struggle fiom dialog with the opponent as well as
govemment and legislators (DPRD), huge and rather violent demonstration, up to
hijacking big ships and burning down big fishing vessel of their opponent.
In class conflict, whether between small and intermediate classes fishers with
mining firms or with ?big capitalist? fishers class, there is again a peculiar character
which is uncommon or even unknown to the industrial world. In fishery class conflict,
there is a strong alliance between the owner class and the labour class. Furthermore,
when class conflict is taking place between the lower and the higher class fishers such as
between the ?peja1a" (intermediate class) and the purse seine fishers (big capitalist class)
early 2006 in Balikpapan, a strong alliance between owner and labour in each class was still hold. It means, capitalist fishers plus labour agains intermediate fishers plus labour. Something that probably never imagined by Marx!
In the class conflict between the "pejala" (intermediate class) and the purse seine fishers (big capitalist class) in Balik papan, the main issue or the cause of the conlict was not exploitation but domination in the process of "production". In this case, the intermediete class was dominated by the big capitalist class. More over, even though the issue was a "realistic issue", but because it was about source of livelihood, the level of violence of the class conflict was very high. In the case, fishing vessel was burned down and the vice-skipper was hit near his eye. Thus, the violence of a class conflict is not only determined by realistic vs non-realistic issue, but whether it is about main source of livelihood or not.
In conclution, this study plays a remarkable and significant contribution to the theory of fishery class conflict in particular, and even for the theory of class and class conflict in general."
