Mimika struggling to empower locals

Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Timika

With its vast gold and mining resources, the world may look at Mimika regency in Papua as rich, but the indigenous people who live there don't see it that way.

Outside of the infrastructure supporting the operations of PT Freeport Indonesia's massive mining operation and development concentrated in Mimika Baru district and Timika City, little progress of any sort can be seen in the regency, home to some of Papua's least rich.

They live in huts made of palm fronds, have no paved roads or public transport and schools are small and far between, not to mention the dearth of health facilities.

The indigenous Amungme and Kamoro people from mountain villages and other remote areas of the regency are among the poorest. They have no jobs. They eke out a subsistence living scavenging for gold among PT Freeport Indonesia tailings.

Mimika regent Atanasius Allo Rafra said in order to improve conditions throughout the regency the administration had allocated funds from the 2008 regional budget so that each of the regency's 80 villages would receive Rp 100 million (US$11,100) for infrastructure development.

Besides the administration, help is coming from the People Empowerment Institute, working to assist the Kamoro and Amungme tribes who live in 67 undeveloped villages in Mimika.

The organization's executive secretary, John Nakiaya, said each of the 67 villages would get another Rp 100 million from the organization. The organization has already handed over the funds to the Mimika regental administration for disbursement.

"The Mimika administration will distribute the funds to all 67 villages over the region. We hope that all villages can apply the funds properly in order to gain a better life," Nakiaya said.

Nakiaya added that all Amungme and Kamoro villages were poor. "That's why we are only concerned with helping those villages, where those two tribes live. We hope that Papua's indigenous tribes will be able to survive," he said.

Regent Rafra added that the regental administration had also allocated funds from its 2008 budget to buy a plane and a ferry for public transportation in Papua, especially Mimika. The two vehicles will arrive in March.

"By providing public transportation, we hope that residents here, especially those who live in remote areas, can find easier ways to travel."