The Peace, Justice and Creativity Secretariat of the Francis

JUBI, 15 February 2011

The Peace, Justice and Creativity Secretariat of the Franciscans in Papua has refuted a statement by the deputy minister of agriculture, Bayu Krinsa Murti, published in Kompas, describing the MIFEE as a Southeast Asian project for the production of foodstuffs.

Bayu Krisna Murti said that the MIFEE project would need investments from the state agency BUMN amounting to three trillion rupiahs. He also said that the BUMN would get involved once private enterprise has been attracted to the project.

Brother Edy Rosariyanto said that the government should pay close attention to the cultural needs of the local communities in pursuing a programme like the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE).

According to Brother Edy Rosariyanto, the project about which the deputy minister spoke will not improve the welfare of the local community but will only benefit business interests and the BUMN. 'It will clearly make the local communities worse off.' he said and warned the government not to make statements that are not based on the situation of the people in the area.

The Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate was officially launched by minister of agriculture Suswono on 11 August 2010. Medco Papua will be one of the companies involved in this massive project that will be run according to co-operative principles and will involve local peasants. One million hectares of land will be involved, organised in five clusters.

ENDS

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