Ulema protests torture against racing cows

A number of ulemas in Madura have been urging the regional administration to issue bylaws against the use of torture on cows used in the traditional karapan sapi (cow race).

Munif Sayuti, one of the ulemas, said he acknowledged the race was a source of pride for the Madurese. Yet, he added, some ulemas had declared it was haram (prohibited under Islamic teaching) to use torture to encourage the cows to win the race.

He said that a number of methods used to make the cows run faster inflicted harm upon the animals. Applying heating balm to a cows' anus and eyes and beating them with nailed sticks are some commonly used methods.

"The ulemas do not want to ban karapan as it is part of Madurese culture. What we won't allow is physical violence both against animals and human beings," Munif told The Jakarta Post in Pamekasan, Madura, East Java.

Munif said that calls to avoid violence against racing cows had began a few years ago, but no action had been taken.

Torture against racing cows has continued, including during the recent karapan for the President Trophy held at Soenarto Hadiwidjojo Stadium in Pamekasan last Sunday.

"The 24 participants still used nailed sticks to beat the cows to make them run furiously. Unfortunately, the local administration and the organizing committee seemed to have turned a blind eye to the matter," Munif said.

He suggested that to prevent further violence from being committed in the future, a bylaw was needed.

According to Pamekasan historian Sulaiman Sadik, karapan sapi was first introduced by Prince Katandur of Sapudi Island, Sumenep, in the 13th century, and was named karapan salaga, to refer to the traditional cow-ridden plow used by farmers in the region.

At that time, only whips were used to encourage the cows to run faster. "In its development, however, karapan has become a form of animal torture. That's why we want to preserve the race by returning it to its original form," Sulaiman said.

Speaker of the Pamekasan Legislature Council Iskandar, said his office had been receiving complaints from both activists in Madura and tourists visiting the region regarding the use of torture in the karapan race.

This, he said, had resulted in a constant decrease in the number of tourist visits to the island over the past few years.

"The interest in seeing karapan sapi is still high among the Madurese, as shown by the number of people flocking to such events," Iskandar said.

"Yet, if we observe it much closer, fewer foreign tourists have been enjoying it lately," he added.

Iskandar said his office planned to conduct a publicity program both among the owners of the cows and other related parties to help eliminate the torture of cows in the traditional race.

Katijo, a cow owner in Pamekasan, however, expressed pessimism that eliminating torture in karapan would be successful as each cow owner wanted their animal to win.

"The cows that are beaten with nailed sticks and applied with balm run much faster than those that are only whipped," Katijo said. (Indra Harsaputra)

Sumber: The Jakarta Post, Fri, 10/30/2009

Belajar IPA via Karapan Sapi

SALAH seorang guru berprestasi, yang diidamkan dunia pendidikan di Bangkalan adalah Drs Imam Muslich, guru IPA SD Pejagan 2 Bangkalan. Imam merupakan salah satu finalis lomba keberhasilan guru dalam pembelajaran tingkat nasional tahun 2008.

Ia satu-satunya peserta guru SD dari Madura, di antara 6 peserta tingkat SD dari Jawa Timur. Lomba yang diadakan setiap tahun ini diselenggarakan Dirjen Peningkatan Mutu Pendidikan dan Tenaga Pendidikan Departemen Pendidikan Nasional.

Sosok guru seperti Imam tidak hanya mengajar secara teoritis di depan para siswanya. Saat mengajarkan tentang pengaruh gaya pegas dan gaya gesek pada benda misalnya, Imam menggunakan alat peraga berupa sapi-sapian.

Tengoklah bagaimana Imam saat mengajar 40 siswa kelas VI di SDN Pejagan 2 Bangkalan. Awalnya, para siswa diajak bergotong-royong memindahkan beberapa meja. Gabungan meja itu dijadikan arena permainan karapan sapi-sapian.

Sapi-sapian itu terbuat dari pecahan genteng (tembikar), sementara kayu kecil untuk keleles (pasangan)-nya, juga ada pegasnya dari karet.

Tembikar ini ada yang dibuat bulat total. Lainnya bulat bergerigi dua, bulat bergerigi empat, dan bulat bergerigi enam dan delapan. Gerigi ini untuk membuktikan daya geseknya.

Siswa dengan bergerombol di pinggir arena karapan sapi, bersiap-siap membuktikan teori pelajaran IPA yang telah didapat. Guru Imam Muslich meminta beberapa siswa agar agar memutar gerigi yang dihubungkan dengan pegas di keleles karapan sapi. Pertama dengan putaran 5, 10, 15.

Dalam praktik itu, tembikar yang digunakan polos. Semakin banyak memutar pegas, semakin cepat lari sapi-sapian itu.

“Ini apa artinya?” tanya Imam. “Semakin banyak pegas diputar semakin kuat pengaruhnya," jawab seorang murid.

Sedang untuk membuktikan gaya gesek, tembikar yang digunakan bergerigi 2, 4, 6, dan 8. Semakin banyak gerigi tembikar, gerakan sapi-sapian semakin lambat. “Ini pengaruh dari gaya gesekan,” terang Imam.

Metode mengajar yang diterapkan Imam ternyata menyedot perhatian siswa. Siswa pun terlihat tidak bosan karena diajak belajar sekaligus bermain sapi-sapian. Apalagi karapan sapi demikian melekat pada keseharian masyarakat Madura.

Kebetulan pada praktik teori pengaruh gaya pegas dan gaya gesek, disaksikan Kadinas Pendidikan, Drs H Setijabudi NK, MM, Kepala Sekolah SDN Pejagan 2, Drs Jumali.

Kepala Dinas Pendidikan Bangkalan, Drs H Setijabudi NK MM mengatakan, keikutsertaan salah satu guru SD di Bangkalan dalam lomba tingkat nasional, membawa nama baik daerah ini terutama di dunia pendidikan. “Ini juga berkat peran serta Bapak Bupati Fuad Amin yang selalu memberikan dorongan pada guru agar bisa berprestasi dengan baik,” katanya. (kas)

SSumber: Surabaya Post, Rabu, 17 Desember 2008