Residents Refute Negative Narratives, Welcome PSN Development in Wanam

NEGATIVE narratives alleging an exodus of up to hundreds of thousands of residents due to the National Strategic Project (PSN) in Wanam, South Papua, have been directly refuted by the local community. Residents confirmed there has never been any displacement, and they are hoping the PSN food estate development in Wanam will continue. Based on field findings, various circulating claims are considered inconsistent with actual conditions. Current land clearing activities are said to be limited to around 15,000 hectares and are focused on building infrastructure such as roads, bridges, a port, solar panels, an oil refinery, and cold storage facilities. The area of the Wanam PSN zone is also reportedly not as large as narrated. Information citing figures of up to 2.5 million hectares is inaccurate, as the total area is estimated at around one million hectares. Furthermore, claims of an exodus involving up to 170,000 people were not found on the ground. Residents encountered confirmed there was no mass displacement as alleged. Regarding heavy equipment, although orders for up to 2,000 excavator units were mentioned, the actual realisation in the field currently stands at only a few hundred units. Amidst these various issues, local voices are expressing hope for the development. Inosensio Sigipse, a farmer who has lived in Wanam for 10 years, is one such example. He voiced his support for the PSN project, hoping it will improve access and boost the residents’ economy. ‘If there is development, maybe they can build housing and roads, so we can sell our farm produce more easily,’ said the man familiarly called Papa Ino. He described the economic conditions as still difficult, with agricultural produce not always being absorbed by the market. The project is expected to open up job opportunities for the community. ‘If there is work there, those of us who are unemployed can also work,’ he said. A similar sentiment was shared by Kleopas Mause, a teacher and Head of the Village Consultative Body (Bamuskam) in Wanam. He confirmed that the community accepted the PSN from the start as it is seen to bring change, although this is not yet fully even. ‘Now the community has started to get involved in work. It is not 100 percent yet, but there has been change,’ he stated. He also highlighted the community’s urgent need for basic infrastructure. ‘People still walk on foot to bring their produce to the company. The hope is for a proper road to the village, so life can be better,’ he said. Meanwhile, Laurentius Gali Blagaise, a local hamlet leader, assessed that the development is having a positive impact, even though it initially caused some concerns. ‘In my view, this change is already very good. Some local community members are already participating in work,’ said Papa Lau. He acknowledged that some residents have not yet been absorbed into the workforce, but saw future opportunities as remaining open. ‘There are still many young people who want to work. The hope is to reduce unemployment,’ he added. According to Laurentius, the development in Wanam is expected to drive regional progress so the area does not fall behind. ‘We want Wanam to move forward, to be a little bit better step by step,’ he said. From these various accounts, it is clear that conditions in Wanam are far from the narrative of exodus or crisis. On the contrary, the community holds great hope for the development, particularly regarding improvements in infrastructure, employment opportunities, and local economic turnover.