Question

Who was samin and what did he do?

Answer 1

When the Dutch enacted the Forest Laws in Java, Indonesia in the 19th century, they imposed a strict restriction on the villagers to go to forest and use it for their personal purpose. The villagers were strictly punished if they allowed their cattle to graze there or even transport logs of wood out of forest without legal permission or even using the forest roads for communication purpose. In the year 1907, under the leadership of Surontiko Samin, many villagers followed him and revolted in protest against this illegitimate Forest Law. He placed the fact that the wind, water, earth and wood were natural properties and no one can impose a bar on it. The state had not created it nor can it own it. His thoughts and ideas inspired all and lead to a widespread known as the Saminism Movement.

Answer 2

When the Dutch passed the Forest laws and restricted the people from using the forests, Surontiko Samin started a rebel movement against the Dutch. He rebelled around 1890. He belonged to Randublatung village which was a teak forest village. Soon people in other places joined him and it became a wide spread movement.