Regent of Merauke, Frederikus Gebze, S.E., M.Si., asked both foreign and local NGOs to stop disturbing the investors in Merauke. According to the Regent, the local government needs foreign investment as they do not have sufficient funds to build all the required facilities. Thus, one of the sectors that are suitable, in line with the potential in Merauke Regency, are oil palm plantations.
The presence of the palm oil plantations so far has been evaluated and has given a significant contribution. It may provide greater benefits after produced in form of CPO," he said.
With the establishment of the cooperatives, he explained, it remains for the company and the customary rights' owners or the community need to carry it on by establishing and planting smallholdings for the customary rights' owners.
"One of the provisions of the legislation states that any investor comes in a region is obliged to grant a concession of 20% of their total area for smallholdings. It will be managed by the local community either by the owner of customary rights, clan of hamlet, and so forth," said Regent Frederikus Gebze.
According to The Regent, if the Cooperative is established we only have to carry on from there after the cooperatives have been established. However, the company has not done it so far.
What is happening now,says Regent Frederikus Gebze, is that this problem is being used by the NGO to wage a black campaign against Oil Palm. Therefore, he hopes that the media will help any investors that come to Merauke by conveying the real situation. That is not as the black campaign portrays.
"I hope the media can help investors coming in Merauke, " that is the hope he said. Frederikus Gebze evaluates that the investors (of palm oil plantations) coming in to Merauke, besides not only creating jobs, but will also contribute to the community welfare. The result is clear.
''It is not willy-nilly,'' he said.
On Saturday (8/7), the residents of Mam, one of 5 villages in Ngguti district, also firmly asked both foreign and local NGOs, such as Mighty Earth from the US and AidEnvironment from the Netherlands, to stop prohibiting the opening of palm oil plantation for the owner of customary rights in Mam, Ngguti district, Merauke, Papua.
The statement was made by Abraham Yolmen, the Chairman of the Multipurpose Business Cooperative (KSU) Iska Bekai , Simon Walinaulik, the Clan Chief of Yolmen, as well as Charles Yeimei and Yohanes Samkakai, the representatives of the owners of customary rights in Mam, Nakias village when meeting Radar Merauke in Mam, Nakias village, Ngguti district, Merauke recently.
"We have been waiting for the company to open the plantation for the customary rights' owners. However, they have not cleared the forest for us to plant palm oil crops," said Abraham. Simon said that they did not know why the company has not opened the plantation before. "We thought that they did it in purpose to buy some time,' he said. However, he added, they finally knew the reason in the last 2 weeks.