MIFEE

Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) is a project for use of a big area for industry and also palm oil and food crops agriculture in Merauke Regency, in Indonesian West Papua province.

In 2010, up to 90% of the area was still covered by natural forest.[1] The MIFEE project is expected to cover a 1.2 million hectare area, or a quarter of Merauke.[2] The presence of a large number of army units in the MIFEE area, which testifies the role of the military in protecting the interests of foreign investors against the local population.[1] There is a major involvement of Indonesian agribusiness conglomerates.[1] MIFEE involoves land grabbing.[1] There is much indigenous opposition to the MIFEE project.[1] The project threatens conservation areas, such as virgin forests and water catchment areas, as well as the habitat of indigenous peoples in Papua.[3] There were substantial forest fires.[2] Freeport McMoran copper and gold mine has displaced thousands of Papuans and has destroyed vast stretches of pristine forest.[1] MIFEE is valued at approximately $5 billion and aims to dramatically increase agricultural output.[4] Damage to the natural environment caused by the industrial activities of agribusinesses and palm oil plantations has severely affected the health and food security of these indigenous groups. [4] The migrants involved in the project will dwarf Merauke’s indigenous population.[5] Violence was used for land ownership.[6] MIFEE involves intensive land clearing. [7] It is likely to increase marginalization of traditional communities.[7] The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called for a suspension of the project, until there is a free, informed consent by the indigenous population. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Longgena Ginting, Oliver Pye (19 April 2011). "Resisting Agribusiness Development: The Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate in West Papua, Indonesia" (PDF). Land Deal Politics Initiative. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  2. 1 2 The Jakarta Post. "Food estate project may turn Papua into forest fire hotbed - The Jakarta Post". thejakartapost.com. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  3. ↑ The Jakarta Post. "Govt to revive food estate project in Papua - The Jakarta Post". thejakartapost.com. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  4. 1 2 "Destroying Local Livelihoods With Mifee | Jakarta Globe". jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  5. ↑ The Jakarta Post. "MIFEE must benefit indigenous Papuans, everyone - The Jakarta Post". thejakartapost.com. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  6. ↑ Reder, M.; Hirschbrunn, K.; Risse, V.; Stoll, G. (2015). Global Common Good: Intercultural Perspectives on a Just and Ecological Transformation. Campus Verlag. p. 171. ISBN 9783593503189. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  7. 1 2 Rosin, C.; Stock, P.; Campbell, H. (2013). Food Systems Failure: The Global Food Crisis and the Future of Agriculture. Taylor & Francis. p. 154. ISBN 9781136529429. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  8. ↑ Stanley, E.; McCulloch, J. (2012). State Crime and Resistance. Taylor & Francis. p. 95. ISBN 9781136233630. Retrieved 2016-05-30.

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