51 Papuan tribes face extinction due to logging
51 Papuan tribes face extinction due to logging
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Excessive logging has pushed to near extinction at least 51
isolated tribes living as nomads in Waropen, Papua, the country's
eastern most province.
Head of the Papua Social Welfare Office Onnes Rumandei said in
Jayapura on Thursday that forests, which had long been the
habitat for these tribes, were vanishing due to excessive logging
by forest concessionaires.
Onnes did not mention the names of those holding forest
utilization licenses (HPHs) operating in Papua, but they are
believed to be Jakarta-based companies with a strong connection
to the New Order regime.
Logging activities, which have worsened since the central
government introduced the special autonomy law on January 1, have
driven the tribes to mountainous areas along the Mamberamo
River's catchment sites bordering the regencies of Nabire, Puncak
Jaya, Jayawijaya and Jayapura.
Under the special autonomy arrangement, local administrations
may grant concessionaires the right to exploit the country's
forests.
The special autonomy law also allows the province to keep up
to 80 percent of the revenue generated from the exploitation of
local resources, change its name from Irian Jaya to Papua, and to
fly the provincial flag alongside the national flag.
The tribes, which were first discovered by Christian
missionaries and foundations, lead a Stone Age life, with
tribespeople choosing to wear no clothes and to live in caves,
trees or twig huts.
Onnes criticized the government for not paying any attention
to the plight of these tribes.
"Where in fact, these isolated tribes are also part of the
unitary state of Indonesia that deserve government service," said
Onnes, expressing fear that the tribes would become extinct if
the government did not act quickly.
"The tribes are currently being taken care of by the church
and foundations that are concerned with their well-being," said
Onnes, who emphasized that the government had never had the
chance to look after the tribes.
Onnes said the central government had always ignored proposals
submitted to Jakarta. He did not elaborate on the proposals.
Papuans, according to Onnes, are one of the world's last
remaining pure indigenous people and their welfare should be of
international concern.
He said between 70 percent and 80 percent of the indigenous
Papuan population were still living in isolated regions.
In 2002, the Papuan government designated 12 training centers
in 12 regencies in Jayapura, Biak Numfor, Yawa, Nabire, Puncak
Jaya, Jayawijaya, Merauke, Paniai, Sorong and Fakfak.