Indigenous Peoples And Challenges Faced

Short Description of the Mairasi, Mie're and Kuri indigenous tribes, Sebyar and Arfak Regions, West Papua - Indonesia

By: Simon Rizyard Banundi

Introduction

The issue of the basic rights of minority groups, especially indigenous peoples, is a priority issue that is almost forgotten by policy or regulations of local government in the province of West Papua, Indonesia. There are many minority groups who inhabit the province of West Papua, but this description is more focused on the minority groups, the Mairasi, Mie `re and Kuri, as they are the minority ethnic groups in the western part of the Gulf Wondama Regency, Papua Province, Indonesia. Also, besides that, there are the Sebyar indigenous group act as the judge and the owner of rival tribal areas. Company operations by British Petroleum (BP - Indonesia) are also located in the region, Aranday Bintuni, Indonesia, and the indigenous peoples, the Arfak, reside in Manokwari, West Papua Province.

Read More

Although there have been laws that accommodate the needs of indigenous groups in Papua province in government policy and regulation as well as Papua Special Autonomy Law, they but often neglect and dismiss indigenous peoples and the marginalized situation continues.Local government autonomy shifts from regulation by reason of regional divisional areas in order to slow down development creating a rather corrupt system that robs the rights of minority groups in the region - either the by the district or province. Increasing powerlessness felt by the public is the main subject in the development of Papua and West Papua provinces.  The system’s top down policy tends to dominate and influence the local and cultural wisdom of minority groups.

Indigenous Tribe : The Mairasi, Kuri and Mie're

Indigenous groups, the Mairasi, Kuri and Mie’re tribes, which inhabit isolated terrain in Wondama Bay District are currently facing new challenges from the outside. Natural resources in the form of timber, aloe, sago, ironwood, matoa wood, resin, merbau, wood opponents are found in its lush tropical forest and are now the target of investors who develop and invest into the region. The opening and usage of their forests into palm oil land has opened new challenges and threats to the existence of indigenous tribal communities including the Mairasi, Mie're and Kuri. Between the national program of developing the government-industry sector in oil, and the rights of the people to control their forests have been violated and this violation has the potential to trigger a larger structural conflict. Previously, the area that is currently the target of the government’s palm oil investment fueled the conflict surrounding forest products in 2001. The conflict, involving vertical investors, used the power of unifying security forces, the INTA (Mobile Brigade / Police Mobile Brigade), resulting in incidents of violence and the violation of customary rights of indigenous peoples by force. More than 20 villages were destroyed and the earth was scorched by security personnel; in addition, dozens of people were killed and mysteriously disappeared. Efforts made by the government to work with the victims from then until now have never existed, alignments that have been showcased in the development of the project have not empowered the communities of indigenous people. The national program of investment in the framework of palm oil plantations into indigneous traditional territory is now trigger a deeply traumatizing for them. Whether or not this will be a new disaster for their future is uncertain? Whether or not the government will prepare the indigenous people to be able to get out of the threats and challenges those around them is another issue at hand as well. 

Indigenous Sebyar

Unlike the indigenous tribes of the Mairasi, Mie're and Kuri, the Sebyar inhabit the plains near to isolated Wondama Bay District. Sebyar indigenous peoples have a situation more directly influenced by the presence of the mining company BP Indonesia who is liquefying natural gas obtained in their traditional territories. About 12 villages became the company's exploration sites and only five villages received direct services from the presence of BP.

The company has relocated to the area due to residential land worthy of exploration but many in the region still do not find the availability of adequate services. Rights are routinely denied, in particular, the right to access healthcare services and education.

 Indigenous ArfakThe development approach undertaken by local government regarding the Arfak community has triggered an overly large dependence on the local government. The transfer of traditional land usage by the indigenous Arfak into oil palm plantations was originally expected to give rise to the welfare of local communities and indigenous peoples but in fact the Arfak indigenous ancestral lands used by the PTP. II Prafi for oil palm plantations has not brought any significant benefit ito the communities in 29 years or changed the lives of the Arf1ak in their communities for the better. Local communities and indigenous peoples do not question the presence of investors who want to manage natural resources on ancestral lands, and the involvement of local communities re: their indigenous natural resources have not been managed with the active involvement of local people, from planning, implementation and supervision

 Ending

The existence of the indigenous tribes Mairasi, Mie're and Kuri, Sebyar and Arfak in the territory of West Papua as well as the forests on their traditional territory have been the basis of their lives. They make a living, receive shelter, survive and even have religious links with their traditional territories. As a result of the industrialization due to the modern era, access to their customary tenure areas is limited.