A Declaration produced during a recent meeting in Papua demands that “All forms of activities and initiatives for carbon trade and carbon compensation which do not recognize the rights of adat community in land of Papua should be stopped.”
From 19-21 November 2009, more than 200 participants attended the Congress, “Save The People and Forests of Papua”, organised by the Papua NGO Cooperation Forum (Foker LSM Papua).
People from seven indigenous territories in Papua, Mamberamo Tami, Saireri, Bomberay, Domberay, La Pago, Mee Pago and Anim Ha, took part, including Indigenous Peoples, Religious Leaders and CSO activists. The main agenda of the Congress was to discuss research carried out by Foker LSM Papua during 2008 and 2009. The research, titled “Save the People and Forests of Papua”, focussed on the relationship between Indigenous Peoples of Papua and their Forests in seven indigenous territories of Papua. Last year, this research resulted in four short films and a foreword:
Foreword to “Save The People and Forests of Papua” Neles Tebay, Lecturer in Philosophy and Theology, discusses the importance of films in the fight against deforestation and palm oil expansion in Papua.
Defenders of the Tribal Boundaries: Papuan Series Episode 1 Describes the decision by the Papuan government to deforest the land for the growth and harvest of oil palms. The grim results of the decisions, which excluded the local indigenous voices, are described.
Tears of Mother Mooi: Papuan Series Episode 2 The Mooi people talk about how the arrival of palm oil has changed their way of life.
Destiny… My Land Papuan Series Episode 3 For generations the indigenous communities of Bintuni Bay have benefitted from their natural resources in a sustainable way. But when industrial forestry arrived, the benefits for the people of Bintuni Bay became less clear.
Gaharu Business: Blessing or Disaster; Papuan Series Episode 4 The impacts of trade in Gaharu wood in the villages of Eei and Assue.
DECLARATION OF THE FIRST CONGRESS ‘SAVE THE PEOPLES AND FOREST OF PAPUA
PORT NUMBAY, 21 November 2009
WE, THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE FIRST CONGRESS, RECOGNIZE THAT ADAT COMMUNITY UNDERGOES MARGINALIZATION AND NEGLECTION FROM THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO THE EXPANSION OF PALM OIL PLANTATION, MINING, DECENTRALISATION, MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVITIES AND LOGGING CONCESSION IN WHICH THESE ACTIVITIES DO NOT RESPECT AND REGONIZE ADAT COMMUNITY RIGHTS AND CAUSE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE LAND OF PAPUA.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PAPUA ADAT COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN THE KEY PLAYERS AND MAIN ACTORS IN NATURAL RESOURCES BASED-LOCAL WISDOM MANAGEMENT FOR CENTURIES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES SHOULD INVOLVE ADAT COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE OUTCOMES SHOULD BE MAINLY INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF PAPUANS
REFLECTING THE REALITY, WE, THE PARTICIPANTS OF FIRST CONGRESS, “SAVE THE PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER CUSTOMARY LEADERS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CSO/NGO ACTIVISTIS, WOMEN REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OUR CONCERN AND POSITION TO PUSH FORWARD FOR A RECOGNITION, PROTECTION OF ADAT CUSTOMARY RIGHTS AND EMPOWER ADAT COMMUNITY.
WE AFFIRM THAT PAPUA MUST BE MADE AS A PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS LAND FREE FROM VIOLATIONS AND INTIMIDATIONS. THIS COMMITMENT INSPIRES US TO ISSUE A DECLARATION IN THIS FIRST KONGRESS ‘SAVE THE PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA WITH THE AFFIRMATION THAT:
“IT IS THE RESPONSIBILTY OF THE STATE TO SAVE THE PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA,”
WE THEREFORE DECLARE:
1. PAPUA LAND IS RECOGNIZED AS PAPUAN’S MOTHER WHO GIVES THE LIFE. THE LAND OF PAPUA IS THE HERITAGE OF ADAT COMMUNITY. THUS, IT BELONG TO ADAT CUSTOMARY PEOPLE. THERFORE, THE LAND CAN NOT BE SOLD AND BOUGHT.
2. ADAT HONOR, AS PART OF ADAT ASSETS, SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO NON PAPUANS
3. ALL NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE FREE FROM MILITARY AND POLICE INTERVENTION AND INVOLVEMENT
4. ALL DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAND OF PAPUA AND ITS UTILITY IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE WELAFARE OF ADAT COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, ADAT COMMUNITY SHOULD BE INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN ALL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
5. ALL FORMS OF EXPLOITATION OVER NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE LAND OF PAPUA WHICH DESTROYS ENVIRONMENT AND CAUSES HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS SHOULD BE STOPPED.
6. THE LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE FREE FROM ‘INTELLECTUAL PROSTITUTION’ DONE BY ACADEMICS AND CSO ACTIVISTS WHICH OFTEN LEGITIMATES DECENTRALIZATION, DESTROYS ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL WISDOM
7. DECENTRALIZATION IN THE LAND OF PAPUA HAS CREATED NEW PROBLEMS, CAUSES HORIZONTAL CONFLICTS WHICH DESTROYS THE EXISTING ADAT COMMUNITY STRUCTURE. THEREFORE, THE DECENTRALIZATION OF REGENCY/CITY AND PROVINCE IN THE LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE STOPPED.
8. ALL FORMS OF ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES FOR CARBON TRADE AND CARBON COMPENSATION WHICH DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE RIGHTS OF ADAT COMMUNITY IN LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE STOPPED.
9. THE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD GIVEN TO GOVERNOR OF PAPUA PROVINCE INDICATES AN APPRECIATION OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR THE EFFORTS TO SUSTAIN AND PROTECT PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA. THEREFORE, GOVERNMENT OF PAPUA SHOULD MATERIALIZE AND REALIZE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTION OF PAPUA LAND
10. THE VIOLATIONS OF INTELLECTUAL RIGHTS DONE BY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND RESEARCHERS OVER PAPUA ENDEMIC FLORA AND FAUNA SHOULD BE STOPPED
11. ADAT COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED DRAMATIC DEPOPULATION. THEREFORE, STATE-SPONSORED FAMILY PLANNING SHOULD BE STOPPED AND ALL PARTIES SHOULD SERIOUSLY COMBAT THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS, IMPROVE MOTHER AND CHILDREN HEALTH AND NUTRITION AND PROMOTE EDUCATION QUALITY
12. ADAT COMMUNITY IN THE LAND OF PAPUA IN ALL LEVELS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS SHOULD STRENGTHEN THEIR ADAT STRUCTURE AND THEIR CAPACITY AND PRESERVE ADAT VALUES AND NORMS.
ALL REGULATIONS ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT WHICH DO NOT RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT AND EMPOWER ADAT COMMUNITY IN THE LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE REMOVED.
WORK FOR YOUR BELOVED LAND
UNITED WE CAN, WE CAN UNITE
SAVE THE PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA
GOD BLESS THE LAND OF PAPUA