Jayapura, Jubi – Papuas Students joined Yerisiam–Gua tribe in rejecting the oil palm company Nabire Baru, which allegedly never fulfills the rights of indigenous peoples, cthe hairman of Independent Students Forum, Teko Kogoya, said.
The students held a demonstration in front of the Administrative Court in Waena, Jayapura, Papua on last week.
“One hundred percent, we support the demand of the tribe to revoke the company’s license issued by the Governor of Papua, Barnabas Suebu No. 142 in 2008 for PT Nabire Nabire,” Kogoya said.
According to him, the revocation of the license is a necessity because the company caused deforestation, making unproductive land and taking away the rights of local communities.
“Palm trees absorb water. The soil becomes dry. The Company started to not recognize the rights of the community, ” he said.
Secretary of the Forum Peduli Papua, Soren Kiriho, said that the company had damaged the natural resources which is the source of life.
“The destruction of the ecosystem, break the chain of life,” he added.
Therefore, the government must suspend its licenses and carry out reforestation program.
“We ask for reforestation,” he said.
People of Yerisiam -Gua have suing the decree of the Governor to the Administrative Court of Jayapura since last month. Until this news was written Jubi has not managed to get clarification from the company. (Mawel Benny/ Tina)