Jakarta's "Autonomy" Policies For West Papua Jeopardizes Papuan Forests
A December 14 article by Nethy Dharma Somba appearing in the Jakarta Post ( http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/14/decentralization-jeopardizes-forest-papua.html ) underscored the threat to the environment in West Papua posed by the current Indonesian government's approach to
"decentralization." The analysis argues that Jakarta's decentralization policies, and specifically its autonomy
initiative in West Papua ('special autonomy"), pose a direct threat to Papuan forests. The article cites Papua Forestry
Office head Marthen Kayoi as warning that "(t)he forested areas currently available would unlikely still be there five
to 10 years from now if regional autonomy continues as it would lead to physical development."
The Papuan official added that while the current area of intact Papuan forests totaled 31.5 million hectares, only 24
million hectares would remain based on the current autonomy approach which entails the rapid designation of new
administrative districts and development of infrastructure. In addition to normal development, there is, the official
noted, the constant threat of illegal logging. (WPAT note: Much of this illegal logging is carried out by the Indonesian
military or under its protection.)
The Papuan official called special attention to the Lorentz National Park which, despite its national park status, hosts
operations by the Freeport-McMoran copper and gold mining operation. (WPAT comment: Freeport-McMoran gold mining operations not only extend into the Lorentz. The devastating consequences of its mining
operations in the Timika district also extend to the Lorentz by virtue of its tailing disposal which spread to the
Lorentz through Ajkwa river system which serves as Freeport's tailings sewer system into the Afura sea).
ENDS