2) Merauke food estate to boost Papuan people's welfare: govt
3) Southwest Papuans receive economic-empowering automotive training
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Human Rights Monitor
https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/governments-merauke-food-estate-project-violates-indigenous-rights-and-lacks-environmental-sustainability/
1) Government’s Merauke Food Estate Project violates indigenous rights and lacks environmental sustainability
The Indonesian government’s ambitious plan to create a one-million-hectare rice field in the Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan Province, is moving forward without proper consultation with indigenous communities and despite significant environmental risks. On 12 July 2024, the Minister of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), Siti Nurbaya, issued Minister of Environment and Forestry Decree No. 835 of 2024 on Approval of Forest Area Use for Food Security Facilities and Infrastructure Development Activities in the Framework of Defence and Security on behalf of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence covering 13,540 hectares of Protected Forest Area, Permanent Production Forest Area and Convertible Production Forest Area in Merauke Regency.
The project, part of the National Strategic Project (PSN), has seen the arrival of hundreds of excavators and heavy equipment, raising alarm among human rights and environmental organisations. According to the information received, the project coordinator, the Indonesian entrepreneur Mr Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad aka. Haji Isam, ordered a total of 2,000 excavators from China to implement the project. HRM received photos and videos showing the arrival of excavators in the project area by ship. One video shows the excavators clearing large areas of land (see videos and photos below, source: independent HRDs).
The project gravely violates the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), a fundamental right of indigenous peoples. According to press relese published on 13 September 2023 by the Indonesian foundation ‘Pusaka Bentala Rakyat’ (PUSAKA), local indigenous Malind communities, including the Gebze Moywend and Gebze Dinaulik clans, report that their lands, hamlets, and customary forests have been seized without any prior deliberation or consensus. This blatant disregard for indigenous rights is further exacerbated by the presence of armed military personnel securing the project implementation.
The indigenous Malind people, holding the customary land rights in the project area, have firmly rejected all forms of corporate investment on their customary lands. This unified stance was declared by various Malind communities in response to the Indonesian government’s National Strategic Project aiming to establish sugar and bioethanol self-sufficiency and a food barn project spanning millions of hectares in Merauke. Indigenous communities have expressed deep concerns about the potential loss of their lands, forests, and cultural heritage to large-scale development projects.
This rejection highlights the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights and environmental preservation in West Papua. The communities’ concerns stem from past negative experiences with corporate interventions and fears of marginalisation and cultural erosion. The call for intervention from the South Papua People’s Assembly and the Merauke Regional Government emphasizes the need for government accountability and respect for indigenous rights in development planning, urging a re-evaluation of national strategic projects that potentially violate human rights.
Environmental concerns are equally pressing. The project area overlaps with 858 hectares of natural forests and peatlands, as indicated in the Indicative Map of the Termination of Business Licensing (PIPPIB). The large-scale destruction of these ecosystems will significantly increase carbon emissions, directly contradicting Indonesia’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. The lack of transparency and the absence of an FPIC-based consultation with indigenous communities support allegations that the project lacks proper environmental impact assessments and approvals. Affected communities and environmental organisations have not been involved in discussions or received information on environmental documents.
The Merauke Food Estate project exemplifies a worrying development trend at the expense of indigenous rights and environmental sustainability. It is crucial for the Indonesian government to reevaluate the project, prioritizing inclusive, just, and sustainable development that respects the rights of indigenous peoples and preserves critical ecosystems. Failure to do so will inevitably undermine global efforts to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity on our planet.
Arrival of first excavators in Merauke in mid-August 2024
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2) Merauke food estate to boost Papuan people's welfare: govt
September 13, 2024 18:10 GMT+700
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The development of a food estate on one million hectares of rice fields in Merauke, South Papua, is a national strategic program to improve people's welfare, according to the Agriculture Ministry's task force for food security operations.
"The development of one million hectares of rice fields in Merauke is a national strategic program, and not a private project because everything is funded and carried out on behalf of the state," the task force's commander, Major General Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, emphasized during a visit to Wogikel and Wanam villages in Merauke.
"The national strategic program is being carried out in Merauke because the government sees that Merauke has extraordinary potential for agricultural resources. The area has vast, flat, and fertile land, abundant sources of water, as well as suitable weather for rice cultivation throughout the year," he observed.
According to him, the program in Merauke will have a positive impact on community welfare, which will be supported by the construction of infrastructure as well as public facilities from the village to the district level.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman also visited Wanam district, Merauke, at the end of August 2024.
During the visit, he said that Merauke is projected to become the main contributor to the national rice barn in the next two years.
"We are optimistic that in the next two years, food self-sufficiency can be achieved from here," he added.
For the one million-hectare rice project in Merauke, the government has built supporting infrastructure, including a 135.5-kilometer road from Ilwayab to Ngguti.
During his visit, Sulaiman reviewed the water channels along the road and directed that their width and depth be increased to optimize irrigation.
"We design this as long storage to irrigate the one million hectares of rice fields that we are printing," he said.
Related news: Japanese investor studying food estate project: minister
Related news: VP Amin inaugurates Nusantara Food Estate to support new capital
Related news: Food estates making positive impact on farmers, regions: ministry
Translator: Indra Arief Pribadi, Yashinta Difa
"The development of one million hectares of rice fields in Merauke is a national strategic program, and not a private project because everything is funded and carried out on behalf of the state," the task force's commander, Major General Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, emphasized during a visit to Wogikel and Wanam villages in Merauke.
"The national strategic program is being carried out in Merauke because the government sees that Merauke has extraordinary potential for agricultural resources. The area has vast, flat, and fertile land, abundant sources of water, as well as suitable weather for rice cultivation throughout the year," he observed.
According to him, the program in Merauke will have a positive impact on community welfare, which will be supported by the construction of infrastructure as well as public facilities from the village to the district level.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman also visited Wanam district, Merauke, at the end of August 2024.
During the visit, he said that Merauke is projected to become the main contributor to the national rice barn in the next two years.
"We are optimistic that in the next two years, food self-sufficiency can be achieved from here," he added.
For the one million-hectare rice project in Merauke, the government has built supporting infrastructure, including a 135.5-kilometer road from Ilwayab to Ngguti.
During his visit, Sulaiman reviewed the water channels along the road and directed that their width and depth be increased to optimize irrigation.
"We design this as long storage to irrigate the one million hectares of rice fields that we are printing," he said.
Related news: Japanese investor studying food estate project: minister
Related news: VP Amin inaugurates Nusantara Food Estate to support new capital
Related news: Food estates making positive impact on farmers, regions: ministry
Translator: Indra Arief Pribadi, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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3) Southwest Papuans receive economic-empowering automotive training
September 14, 2024 16:43 GMT+700
Sorong, Southwest Papua (ANTARA) - The Southwest Papua provincial government, in collaboration with the Sorong Vocational Education and Productivity Center (BPVP), has trained 35 Papuan natives in the automotive sector to empower them economically. This training is part of the government’s efforts to increase the income of Papuans, according to Rusli Momot, the automotive training coordinator at the province’s Social, Women Empowerment, and Child Protection Office.
“This automotive training aims to enhance the skills of Papuans so they can potentially start their own workshops in their communities,” he said here on Saturday.
He noted that the intensive training program, held in collaboration with the Sorong BPVP for the next 10 days, consists of five days of theory and five days of learning by practice.
“After the training, we will provide complete workshop equipment to support their new businesses,” he elaborated. Alia Amirudin, an instructor at BPVP, highlighted that the training focuses on repairing motorcycle fuel systems.
“There are often many issues with motorcycle fuel systems, so we train participants to master their repair,” Amirudin said.
The program also covers the continuously variable transmission (CVT) model, commonly used in automatic motorcycles
“There will also be additional instruction on using the scanner tool, which will be thoroughly explained to the participants,” Amirudin added.
During the practical training, participants will be divided into groups. One participant, Nommensen Saflembolo, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to join the training.
“This is a valuable resource for starting my own business later,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the local government will continue supporting this automotive training program.
Related news: Southwest Papua needs well-prepared human resources : minister
Related news: VP launches first Papuan Islamic economy committee in Southwest Papua
“This automotive training aims to enhance the skills of Papuans so they can potentially start their own workshops in their communities,” he said here on Saturday.
He noted that the intensive training program, held in collaboration with the Sorong BPVP for the next 10 days, consists of five days of theory and five days of learning by practice.
“After the training, we will provide complete workshop equipment to support their new businesses,” he elaborated. Alia Amirudin, an instructor at BPVP, highlighted that the training focuses on repairing motorcycle fuel systems.
“There are often many issues with motorcycle fuel systems, so we train participants to master their repair,” Amirudin said.
The program also covers the continuously variable transmission (CVT) model, commonly used in automatic motorcycles
“There will also be additional instruction on using the scanner tool, which will be thoroughly explained to the participants,” Amirudin added.
During the practical training, participants will be divided into groups. One participant, Nommensen Saflembolo, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to join the training.
“This is a valuable resource for starting my own business later,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the local government will continue supporting this automotive training program.
Related news: Southwest Papua needs well-prepared human resources : minister
Related news: VP launches first Papuan Islamic economy committee in Southwest Papua
Translator: Yuvensius B, Kenzu
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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