Some conflicts in West Papua stem from illegal operations by companies that have failed to involve customary land rights owners. A prominent example is the operation of PT Zoomlion in Kapiraya District in the Deiyai Regency, Central Papua Province. A conflict between local communities and the company urgently requires intervention from the Central Papua Provincial Government.
On 18 July 2024, a dispute over gold panning land in Kapiraya District escalated tensions between the Mee and Kamoro tribes. This dispute threatens the peaceful coexistence between the two tribes. Historically, the Me and Kamoro tribes have lived in harmony, engaging in activities such as hunting, cooking, and bartering together. However, tensions have risen recently when residents of Wakiya Village, armed with weapons, threatened to sweep away the Me tribe residents in Mogodagi Village. This threat arose due to a scramble for control over the gold mining land in the region.
The Dogiyai Regency House of Representatives has taken steps concerning the illegal gold mining activities by PT Zoomlion Indonesia Heavy Industry in the Mogodagi Village, Kapiraya District. Since January 2023, PT. Zoomlion has been conducting manual gold mining operations. In May 2024, they expanded their activities by bringing in two excavators and two Hilux vehicles without obtaining permission from the local community. This operation has resulted in severe environmental damage and a blatant disregard for the rights of the indigenous peoples as the customary rights holders.
In response to the increasingly volatile situation, the Dogiyai Regency House of Representatives conducted field monitoring (announced in May 2024) in Mogodagi Village. Their findings were compiled into official recommendations submitted to the Central Papua Provincial Government, specifically to the Acting Governor, and other relevant parties. The Dogiyai representatives urged that immediate and concrete steps be taken to resolve the situation. The presence of this illegal gold mine has intensified tensions within the local community, particularly between the Kamoro and Kei communities, who have threatened violence against the Me community in Mogodagi Village. Following the DPR’s visit, the situation worsened with the arrival of additional heavy equipment to support the illegal mining activities and the blockade of the Kapiraya airport runway by the Kamoro and Kei people, along with the company.
On the evening of 28 August 2024, angry Mee and Kamoro people burned two vehicles and other materials in the Wakia Village, Kapiraya District, Mimika Regency (see videos below). This incident added to existing tensions over the boundary dispute in the area. The incident indicates that the conflict has reached a level of escalation that requires immediate attention from the authorities to prevent further escalation of the conflict. The Grand Chief of Meepago Region, Central Papua Province of the Mee Tribal Customary Council (Dasme) of Mimika Regency urged that mediation steps be taken between the parties involved to find a peaceful solution. (see videos below)
It is crucial that the Kamoro and Me tribes engage in dialogue to determine the boundaries of their respective customary lands. The community is urging the Acting Governor of Central Papua to promptly take concrete steps based on the recommendations of the Dogiyai Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), which reflects the people’s aspirations. This action is vital to prevent a violent escalation of the ethnic tensions between Me, Kamoro, and Kei. We seek a solution that promptly delineates territorial boundaries and issues a Governor’s Regulation (Pergub) and a Special Regional Regulation (Perdasus) on people’s mining.
Immediate actions should include shutting down the illegal gold mining operations by PT. Zoomlion Indonesia Heavy Industry, conducting a transparent investigation into PT. Zoomlion’s illegal mining activities, and restoring the rights of the indigenous land rights holders.
Case information: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/indigenous-communities-oppose-mining-activities-of-pt-zoomlion-in-their-customary-land-in-kapiraya-deiyai/
