Be Harmonious in Maintaining the Livelihood (The Form of Economic Democracy for the Communities Around the Cave of St. Mary, Tritis)

By: Yonatan Pristiaji Nugroho.     

In the southern part of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, there is a Catholic religious tourist spot called Gua Maria Tritis (The cave of St. Mary, Tritis), located in Bulu, Giring village, Paliyan district, Gunungkidul regency. The cave is closely related to a historical figure, Ki Ageng Giring, a famous figure in the period of the collapse of the Pajang kingdom and the establishment of the Mataram kingdom, who is said to meditate in the cave.

The existence of the tourist spot opens widely for employment and business opportunities for the residents. This is shown by several residents around the cave who work and serve in the cave of St. Mary. Further, to determine who is in charge and working in the area, the village apparatus held a deliberation meeting with the residents at the village hall. It was attended by the representatives of the Head of the Family and the village head and parties from the Wonosari Parish church to determine some job opportunities, such as parking lot, cleaning staff, and selling food and clothes, meanwhile, the person in charge of the entrance is from the parish church of St. Petrus Kanisius Wonosari as the owner of the area.

Democracy is not only related to politics but also social, cultural, and economic. Politics is not far from the rights of each voice to determine political activity in their regions. In socio-cultural, democracy is aimed for social welfare and justice. As in the economy, every individual has the right to get job opportunities to achieve a good standard of living. Democracy in all these fields is interconnected with one another, it cannot only in politics but in social and economic implemented among society. Likewise, with the community around the cave Mary, Tritis, everyone has the right to get a job and to create an independent business, both from the natural products around the cave and the residents’ creativity.

Diversity is seen in the community as a form of tolerance. Everyone working there has various backgrounds of their origin, religion, culture, and gender. Everyone has the right to work there though that is originally a place pilgrimage for Catholics. Not only that, but the residents also maintain the tradition by working together in the cave area or called mutual work to keep the cleanliness of the cave area.

So, is it important to implement democracy in society? Of course, without democracy, we cannot carry out our obligations and get our rights as a society to get justice, political right, socio-cultural, and economic needs. People are free to involve themselves in political, social, and economic aspects. This is also obtained from the role of democracy in the community around the cave St. Mary, Tritis, the existing democracy does not tend to one party who has authority, but everyone gets justice and freedom that bring positive impact both individual and group. Tolerance in diversity must be promoted as a value of unity in the society and the nation. ***