1) NGO investigation reveals failure of Jokowi’s Depapre sea highway development

 

 

2) Food aid distribution to Highland Papua runs well: Minister Effendy  

3) Critics challenge Indonesia’s woody biomass strategy for energy transition over emissions concerns 

--------------------------

https://en.jubi.id/ngo-investigation-reveals-failure-of-jokowis-depapre-sea-highway-development/

1) NGO investigation reveals failure of Jokowi’s Depapre sea highway development   

News Desk - Depapre Sea Toll Port 

30 October 2023

Jayapura, Jubi – The Democracy Alliance for Papua (ALDP) has revealed that the container port development in Depapre, located in Jayapura Regency, which is part of President Joko Widodo’s Sea Highway policy, has been unsuccessful. This assessment is the outcome of an investigation carried out by ALDP from July 2021 to October 2023.

Antoni Ibra Nalaki, the Coordinator of ALDP’s Administrative and General Division, presented the findings of this investigation on October 27, 2023, in Jayapura City. He revealed that the Ministry of Transportation’s project aimed to establish a new Sea HIghway route referred to as T-19, with the goal of enhancing connectivity in Papua and West Papua.

However, in reality, Ibra pointed out that the sea highway project in Depapre encountered problems right from the planning, development, and management stages. The NGO concluded that the program was a total failure as it failed to improve the economic well-being of the area. Additionally, the road leading to the port has suffered significant damage, and the funds allocated for its repair were allegedly misappropriated.

During the planning of the Depapre Sea Toll Port, the government engaged only three clans, Onggroitouw, Yarisetouw, and Soumilena, neglecting the rights of other clans in Depapre, such as Demetouw from Waiya and Supa, who also have claims to the sea affected by the Depapre sea highway project.

“Moreover, the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) document for the Depapre port’s construction did not involve or inform the community as customary rights owners,” said Ibra.

The AMDAL document and the Depapre Port Master Plan from the Ministry of Transportation’s Directorate General of Sea Transportation in 2015 were only made accessible to Depapre’s indigenous people in 2018 after they, accompanied by ALDP, filed a public information dispute lawsuit at the Papua Information Commission.

People in the area claimed that they were unaware of the AMDAL document, and the government did not consider the impact on the indigenous people. The project resulted in the reclamation of traditional fishing areas like Tiyatiki and the conversion of coral reefs into land.

Customary rights to marine areas were not acknowledged, and losses due to the reclaimed coral reefs were not compensated, turning a project intended for economic prosperity into a source of problems.

The Depapre Port, intended to function as a container, bulk cement, and palm oil port, has seen limited progress, with the bulk cement and palm oil ports remaining inactive. The container port only conducted loading and unloading operations from January 2021 to July 2021.

A conflict over port management has emerged involving the central government, the PapuaProvincial Government, and the Jayapura Regency Government. Labor recruitment at Depapre Port has been problematic, with thousands of loading and unloading workers not receiving their agreed-upon wages.

Furthermore, the plan to convert the container port into a passenger port by the end of 2022 has faced challenges, with passenger activities not operating effectively, and the duration of its operation remains uncertain.

In summary, Jokowi’s Sea Highway project at Depapre Port has fallen short of its objectives. The promise of economic development through port activities, such as trade and employment, has not materialized due to the project’s lack of activity. (*)

---------------------------

https://en.antaranews.com/news/297435/food-aid-distribution-to-highland-papua-runs-well-minister-effendy

2) Food aid distribution to Highland Papua runs well: Minister Effendy  

12 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy affirmed that the distribution process of food aid to famine-affected people in Yahukimo District, Highland Papua Province, has been going as planned.

"So far, we have not seen any obstacles. Moreover, the aid distribution carried out during food shortages in Agandugume, Lambewi, and Konawe, also went well," the minister remarked after attending a talk show titled "Youths' Voices Determine the Nation's Fate" in Jakarta on Monday.

Effendy said his ministry will soon conduct a first-hand inspection in Yahukimo District to oversee and ensure the smooth running of the aid distribution to the region.

He noted that technical ministries that coordinate with the PMK Ministry, such as the Social Affairs Ministry and Health Ministry, had commenced operations to distribute assistance to Yahukimo District.

However, the minister noted that his side had not been able to confirm the number of deaths caused by the famine disaster currently hitting the district.

"We will initially confirm whether residents died from famine or other causes. Hence, we cannot yet stipulate how many people have died from famine," he pointed out.

To overcome issues related to food shortages in Indonesia's Papua region, he said, the government will build food warehouses at several locations, starting from Sinak and Agandugume in Puncak District, Central Papua Province.

"There will be a small warehouse in Agandugume. As for Sinak, we will build a big warehouse that will serve as a hub for the distribution of food to several other regions," he stated.

Earlier, some 23 people reportedly died due to famine striking Amuma, Yahukimo District, Highland Papua. The famine disaster is allegedly triggered by crop failures induced by extreme weather experienced by the area. 


Related news: BNPB prepares aid to handle landslides, famine in Highland Papua
Related news: Govt partners with locals to distribute aid in famine-hit Puncak
Related news: Govt to use tech to strengthen Central Papua tuber crops  

Reporter: Sanya Dinda, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala

————————————————

https://en.jubi.id/critics-challenge-indonesias-woody-biomass-strategy-for-energy-transition-over-emissions-concerns/

3) Critics challenge Indonesia’s woody biomass strategy for energy transition over emissions concerns   

News Desk - Woody Biomass

 30 October 2023

Jayapura, Jubi – The government’s push for woody biomass as an eco-friendly solution to energy transition and carbon emissions reduction has faced criticism from 29 civil society organizations.

The use of woody biomass is promoted as carbon-neutral, assuming that carbon emissionsfrom burning wood will be absorbed by new trees. However, the extensive expansion of timber plantations, also known as Energy Forest Plantations (HTE), to meet wood demand is leading to deforestation, excess emissions, land conflicts, and forest fires.

In a joint statement issued online on October 25, 2023, these organizations rejected the government’s reliance on wood biomass in its energy transition strategy.

Amalya Reza, the Bioenergy Program Manager at Trend Asia, highlighted that the concept of woody biomass being ‘carbon neutral’ hinges on the idea that emissions from biomass burning will be recaptured by timber plantations. However, at a large scale, the pace of combustion emissions will outstrip the growth of new trees, which will eventually be harvested.

Reza further pointed out that deforestation of natural forests contributes to additional emissions. The implementation of co-firing in 41 power plants, viewed as a heroic government action in the energy transition, is criticized as a form of greenwashing, implying it is a misleading public narrative.

In Indonesia’s mission to transition to clean energy and combat climate change, the government is striving to achieve a 23 percent target for the energy mix by 2023. They are actively promoting the use of wood pellets made from biomass, either for co-firing in power plants or for use in Biomass Power Plants.

Trend Asia’s research contradicts the government’s claims, arguing that the carbon-neutral assertion for biomass combustion is flawed.

“According to our calculations, burning wood pellets on this scale would result in 1,188,160 million tons of carbon-equivalent emissions,” she said.

Uli Arta Siagian, the National Forest and Plantation Campaign Manager at WALHI, argues that co-firing biomass with coal as a purported solution for clean energy transition only exacerbates the climate crisis and energy inequality. She calls for policies that prioritize people’s safety and environmental protection based on rights and recovery.

Meanwhile, Zainal Arifin, Chairman of the Advocacy Division of YLBHI, suggests that energy plantation forests and biomass co-firing are not genuine solutions but manipulative programs that could lead to human rights violations, particularly in power plant sites and communities struggling in forest areas.

Saiful Wathoni, from the Alliance for Agrarian Reform Movement, warns that Industrial Tree Plantations will increasingly encroach on people’s land and living spaces. He emphasizes that renewable energy is not just about the form of energy but also its purpose and beneficiaries. (*)

-----------------