Doom Island in Sorong Full of Enchantment
Editor: Augustine Bobe
SORONG, [BIDIKDUNIA.COM]-A few years ago I was in the city of Sorong, West Papua, and, while there I visited Doom Island.
In the language of the local people, Malamooi Tribe, “dum” means an island overgrown with many fruit trees. in fact, indeed a lot of fruit plants grow on this island, especially breadfruit.
Since the Dutch occupation, Doom Island has been inhabited.
Initially, the island was part of the territory of the Sultanate of Tidore, and, prior to the arrival of the Dutch, Doom Island was an island belonging to the Moluccan nobles, the Malibela family. The initial inhabitants of the island were those assigned by a noble family to oversee two other islands that also belonged to the Malibela family, namely Soop Island and South Nana Island.
Doom Island was the former seat of government of the Dutch State in Eastern Indonesia during World War II. The colonial government had seen the potential of this island since the 1800s. In 1863 the island began to be recorded in Dutch documents. stated, Dr H.A Bernstein collected cultural studies material for the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden.
Then, Doom Island was used as the capital of the central government of Sorong called Onderafdeling around 1935So, at that time the center of government was not in the city of Sorong because Sorong was not yet in shape at all, Dom Island was the center of the Dutch government in that area.
Infrastructure and electricity first arrived on Doom Island so from afar this island looks very luminous at night. The Dutch East Indies government used diesel as a power plant there, and we can still see this on the island. The bright light from this island makes local people call Doom Island as ‘Star Island’.
Not only the Dutch, the Japanese have also left their mark on this island. During World War II, Japan made Doom Island as their defense base in Papuan waters because during World War II, the Japanese invaders made Doom Island a defense base in Papuan waters. the Japanese military made many caves that were connected to several defense bunkers, a typical Japanese war strategy at that time. In fact, there is a bunker that directly faces Jeffman Airport, Sorong, around the Tanjung Lampu area of Japan. a sign that in addition to being used for defense, bunkers are also a strategic place in order to attack opponents on the island of Papua.
The Japanese army made many caves that were interconnected with many defense bunkers in the style of the Japanese war strategy at that time. Therefore, it is not strange that at this time we will find a lot of caves from Japan spread widely in the mainland area of Doom Island.
The buildings on Doom Island have a very different architecture from the rest of Papua, including Sorong City. Traditional Papuan houses are generally in the form of honai for the interior, or in the form of an overturned boat in the sea, as well as houses on stilts, or wooden huts. Meanwhile, on Doom Island what you will find are typical Dutch houses with concrete construction.
Various facilities left by the Dutch government such as electric substations, old churches, and multipurpose buildings are still standing firmly, so that they become the main attraction of this island.
There is a becak which is a means of public transportation on this island, the fare is very cheap, Rp. 5000/trip as far as the distance on this island. To reach this island can be done by renting a motor boat from Sorong Harbor for Rp. 30.000/boat. Tours are very affordable and full of taste