Sorong, Ekuatorial – Due to massive oil palm plantation expansion, water scarcity hit Malalilis village of Klaili, Sorong district, said an activist, in Sorong, on Tuesday (5/5).
“People are getting hard to find clean water as their village is located inside oil palm plantation. Forest cleared for oil palm. There’s no water in the village. They can only expect rain or collect water from Klamono river which is not completely clean,” said Max Binur of Belantara Papua, a Sorong based NGO.
In addition, he said that most of villagers must go far to the district city to buy not-so-cheap water.
“Oil palm plantation investment, especially in Sorong district, has been very active but people’s movement reacting on these companies has also been increasing,” said Y.L. Franky, editor of Papua’s Oil Palm Atlas : Under The Control of Capital, which was launched in Sorong, on Tuesday (5/5).
The book recorded at least four major oil palm companies operating in Sorong district, — Kayu Lapis Indonesia Group (KLI Group), COFCO, Mega Masindo, PT Mega Mustika Plantation, and PT Cipta Papua Plantation –, which covers a total of 165,946 hectares.
In 1980s, there were less five oil palm companies operating in Papua. However, in 2014, local NGOs recorded more than 20 companies already operating in the island.
Meanwhile, Tori Kalami, member of Sorong House of Representatives, encouraged local indigenous people institution to ‘speak up’ against the situation.
“If local indigenous people institution wants to ‘speak up’, I believe that people will make a move and react or at least talk to us. So, we will be able to push for regulation on the issue if necessary, said Kalami. Niken Proboretno.