kota TARAKAN

 Etymology

The name Tarakan come from Tidung language: Tarak (meeting place) and ngakan (to eat); thus Tarakan was originally meeting place for sailor and trader in Tidung area to eat, rest and trade their catch.

 

History

See also: Battle of Tarakan (1942) and Battle of Tarakan (1945)

Oil field in Tarakan during Dutch colonial periods, ca. 1925

According to legends, native Tidungs established their kingdom in Tarakan around 1076 CE. After moving their capital for several times during centuries, in 1571 CE they settle their kingdom in eastern coast of Tarakan, apparently already under influence of Islam.^[2]

Dutch colonial interests first explored the island in 1863 when oil seepages were discovered. In 1905 an oil concession was granted to Koninklijke Nederlandsche Petroleum Maatschappij, a predecessor to Royal Dutch Shell. One year later oil production began with a result of above 57.928 barrels of oil. Production continued to increase and in the 1920s Tarakan yielded above 5 million barrels a year, a third of total oil production in the whole Dutch East Indies.

In addition, the oil produced here had a parafin base instead of the usual asphalt base. This made Tarakan oil an important source of fuel in great demand, especially from Japan.

During the start of the Second World War in the Pacific, Tarakan was an obvious target for the Japanese. They wanted Tarakan for two reasons: a rich oil field and as a strategic air base from which further attacks can be launched. In the first battle of Tarakan on January 11–12, 1942, the Japanese invasion fleet decisively defeated the Dutch and took control of Tarakan.

Allied landing during Battle of Tarakan (1945).

Following the Dutch surrender, Tarakan's inhabitants suffered under Japan's occupation. The large number of Japanese troops stationed on the island caused food shortages and many civilians suffered from malnutritionJava. The Japanese also forced an estimated 300 Javanese women to work as "comfort women". as a result. During the occupation, the Japanese brought about 600 labourers to Tarakan from

Tarakan's value to the Japanese evaporated with the rapid advance of Allied forces. The last Japanese oil tanker left Tarakan in July 1944, and heavy Allied air raids later in the year destroyed the island's oil production and storage facilities.

Allies finally captured Tarakan following the second battle of Tarakan from May 1 – June 21, 1945. The Allied force responsible for capturing Tarakan was centred around the very experienced Australian 26th Brigade Group.

Following the Indonesian revolution, Tarakan become part of the new republic. Tarakan is administered as part of Kalimantan province. In 1981, Tarakan was granted a city charter. Currently, Tarakan is one of four cities in East Kalimantan, along with Samarinda, BalikpapanBontang. and

Demography

Tarakan had a population of 178,111 in 2008. Native residents are the Tidung, a subgroup of the DayakBugis, Javanese and Chinese Indonesian. The majority of the population is Muslim, with a minority of Christian and other religions.^[6] people. In addition, the city also has a multi-ethnic population from other parts of Indonesia, such as

Relations between ethnic groups are generally peaceful, although Tarakan witnessed deadly clashes in the 2010 Tarakan riot.

 Transportation

Tarakan is served with several ferries, linking it other cities in eastern Borneo: Nunukan, Berau, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan and Tawau in Sabah. The port also provide links to other Indonesian cities, in Sulawesi and Java.^[7]

Tarakan has an airport called Juwata Airport, located 3,5 km from the city. The airport has a flight route to Balikpapan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, and Makassar

 Economy

The city was once a leading oil producer in Dutch East Indies; however now oil only comprises 6% of the total Tarakan economy. The economy is now dominated by fisheries and forest products.

 Environment

Tarakan island is of ecological importance. The island is one of the habitats of the Proboscis monkey. Tarakan also provides breeding ground for marine and bird species.