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Papuan tribe questions govt over issued mining licenses
A traditional tribal community in Waigeo, Raja Ampat regency, in Papua, has questioned the government's decision to authorize nine mining companies to operate in their region
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A traditional tribal community in Waigeo, Raja Ampat regency, in Papua, has questioned the government's decision to authorize nine mining companies to operate in their region.
Members of Maya, a traditional community of the Kawei tribe, said the central government had neglected their rights as traditional people as stipulated under the law on regional autonomy by failing to notify them of the issued mining licenses.
"Their (the companies) presence is not benefiting the traditional community," Christine Ayello of Maya Kawei's women's group told journalists in Jayapura on Saturday.
Christine said companies operating on Manoram Island, for example, were only obliged to pay Rp 1,000 (10 US cents) for every ton of mined produce they transported from the island.
"This is completely unfair," she said.
"Papua has been given a special autonomy, so why are our rights as a traditional community ignored? Who benefits from this special autonomy?"
Christine said her community was able to benefit from the riches of the land without resorting to industrial mining.
"Just from fishing, we can earn Rp 60,000 to Rp 100,000 a day. Our sea is very rich in fish," Christine said.
The community feels that as they live in harmony with their land, neither depleting its natural resources or damaging the environment, that mining companies should have no right to operate in the area.
"So far no company has dared enter Kawei Island as we take very good care of it," said Kawei Maya traditional community leader Korinus Ayello.
Mining companies reportedly entered the traditional region of Waigeo after acquiring licenses issued in 2003 by then Raja Ampat caretaker regent Marcus Wanna.
However, Korinus urged the local administration to review all mining licenses.
He also called on the administration to involve the traditional community in issuing mining licenses, citing that the body was obliged by law to take into account the rights of traditional people.
He said it would be more prudent for the government to develop Raja Ampat regency as a marine industry rather than as a mining site, citing that a fishing industry would benefit from the region's abundance of fish and would not damage the local tourism industry.
Chairman of Conservation International Indonesia for Sorong region Albert Nebora said a marine-based development concept could preserve the environment and create more jobs in environmentally-friendly industries.
"With a mining-based concept, on the other hand, the regency could be rich within 20 years. But after that, we would only be devastated by environmental damages," he said.
Raja Ampat is famous for its natural beauty, and especially its coral reefs, Albert said.
"Seventy-five percent of the world's coral reefs are located in Papua, including in Raja Ampat," he said.
"Just come to Waigeo if you want to enjoy the most complete collections of the world's coral reefs."
That is why, he said, his organization had been providing the local administration with support and input to promote environmentally-friendly developments.
"We do so for the sake of the preservation of nature," he said.
