Wanam Residents Refute Exodus Claims, Express Hope for National Strategic Project Development
Local residents in Wanam have directly refuted negative narratives presented by documentary film director Dandhy Dwi Laksono, who alleged that hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee due to the National Strategic Project (PSN) in Wanam, South Papua. Residents emphasised that no exodus has occurred and that they actually hope the development of the Wanam food estate PSN continues.
Based on field findings, various circulating claims are deemed inconsistent with the actual situation on the ground. Current land clearing activities are reported to be limited to approximately 15,000 hectares, focusing on the construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports, solar panels, oil refineries, and cold storage facilities.
The total area of the Wanam PSN is also reported to be smaller than narrated. Information suggesting an area of up to 2.5 million hectares is inaccurate, as the total area is estimated to be around 1 million hectares.
Furthermore, the issue regarding the exodus of up to 170,000 residents was not found to be true in the field. Residents encountered during visits confirmed that no mass displacement, as alleged, has taken place.
Regarding heavy machinery, although there were reports of orders for up to 2,000 excavators, the actual realisation on the ground currently stands at only several hundred units.
Amidst these various issues, the voices of local residents show hope for the development. Inosensio Sigipse, for example, a farmer who has lived in Wanam for 10 years, stated his support for the PSN project. He hopes that the development will ease access and boost the local economy.
“If there is development, perhaps housing and roads can be built. So that we can sell our agricultural produce more easily,” said the man, affectionately known as Papa Ino, on Thursday, 4 June 2026.
He described the current difficult economic condition of the residents, noting that agricultural products are not always absorbed by the market. The presence of the project is expected to open up job opportunities for the community.
“If there are jobs there, those of us who are unemployed can work too,” he added.
Kleopas Mause, a teacher and the Chairman of the Village Consultative Body (Bamuskam) in Wanam, expressed similar sentiments. He emphasised that the community has accepted the presence of the PSN from the beginning, as it is seen as bringing change, even if those benefits are not yet fully widespread.