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.
Apparently, the company is under extreme pressure from NGOs, such as Mighty Earth and AidEnvironment. Therefore, they did not want the NGOs to intervene and prohibit or pressure them and especially the company. The plantations that will be opened belong to the community which have been included in the concession by the Government's permission.
"Once again, we ask NGOs to stop hindering us to open a plantation on our own land," said Simon Walinaulik.
Both Abraham and Yolmen stated that the company is very serious and committed to open a plantation for the owners of customary rights. It was proven by the establishment of a cooperative for the customary rights' owners called KSU Iska Bekai. It will directly manage the soon-to-be opened smallholdings. Moreover, the company has sent a number of customary rights' owners and cooperative management to conduct a comparative study in Sumatra. It increases their knowledge about palm oil management which can lead them to better welfare conditions.
"There (Sumatera) they have many ranger cars. We want to be like them. We want to have prosperous lives. Thus, NGOs should not hinder us to change our lives to be better," he said. Abraham said that the presence so far of the company has been very helpful to the villagers of Nakias. Not only in term of economy, but also in education, health, and other aspects.
Before, says Abraham, before company came to invest in their region, they had to struggle to earn money and food. To obtain money they had to hunt crocodiles in rivers and swamps, and look for yellow birds (Cendrawasih/ birds of paradise) by climbing trees. We had very risky lives. We also have to go through the long process to make sago. But with the arrival of the company, said Abraham, we do not have struggle to do this anymore. People can work for the company to earn money.
"The company has brought a great change. We do not want to climb trees to look for yellow birds or hunt crocodiles in rivers or swamps, which have uncertain results, anymore. We were miserable before," he said.
In the area of education, continued Abraham, our children in the region now have good education. The company has provided education facilities from elementary to junior high schools, and planned to build a Vocational School of Agriculture. The children shuttle to school by bus at every gathering point every day. "Our children can get education thanks to the company that has provided schools and buses," he said.
In addition Abraham said, that the company also has provided a health clinic. They have prepared 17 health workers from nurses to midwives. The clinic provides basic services, such as emergency unit, delivery, laboratory examination i.e HIV-AIDS, TB, and malaria examinations. It also has rooms for patients that need to be hospitalized and rooms for mothers who give birth.
He explained that before the company came, they had to walk for 2-3 days to the health center in Okaba. "But now, thanks to the company who has provided everything. The sick can immediately get help. In an emergency we can also ask to use the company car to take us to the clinic. It is really helpful," he said. Moreover, the company also provides free medical service to the villages. "The health workers of the company also go to the villages to serve," Abraham said. Meanwhile, the health workers of the local government come twice in a month to provide integrated health service and give immunization along with the health workers of the company.
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