REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TIMIKA -- The district head of Mimika, Papua, Eltinus Omaleng, has revoked the license of an oil palm plantation company PT Pusaka Agro Lestari (PAL) in the Iwaka forest area at Trans Timika-Paniai highway.
The district head told reporters here on Wednesday the license was cancelled as the plantation company had damaged the Mimika forest that serves as a buffer for water resources and ecosystem in the southern beach area of Mimika.
PT PAL has held a concession for oil palm plantation with license from the central government in 2010 issued on recommendation from the Mimika district in 2007.
"Our decision was made merely for the interest of the people of Mimika especially the Kamoro tribe in the coastal area. We see no benefit from the operation of the plantation company for the local people," Omaleng said.
On Tuesday , he and his deputy Yohanis Bassang, Mimika police chief Adj. Sr Comr Jermias Rontini and district military chief Lt. Col Rafles Manurung visited the plantation to convey the official decision.
Before giving the letter to the company, head of the Law Division of the district administration Sihol Parningotan read it out in front of the company's official and workers.
Official and workers of the company were angered after hearing the decision saying the district head had made a unilateral decision without considering the fate of the workers.
They threw rocks at the car that carry the district head before the security officers stepped in to restore order.
The district head said he would be ready to face legal action from the management of PT PAL or the land owners used by the company.
"Go ahead , the district administration of Mimika would be ready for any lawsuit over the revocation of the license," he said.
He asked the police and the military to maintain order in the area after the revocation of the license.
He said since he was installed district head of Mimika in September 2014 , he had received complaints and protests from the people of Kamoro, the Church leaders that they did not want oil palm plantation in Mimika.
They accused PT PAL of being interested only in the forest trees which were sent out from Papua and that the plantation company had no intention of growing oil palm trees in its concession.
The clearing of the forests from trees would threaten the existence of water springs to feed the local rivers.
In addition to the people of the Kamoro tribe live from forest resources including sago.
The district administration plans to grow cassava and seasonal crops on the land of former forest denuded by PT PAL by employing its former workers.
"Starting next year we will set aside a budget for a labor intensive program . Former workers of PT PAL and local people would be involved in the program of growing cassava. The results would be for them," Yohanis Bassang said.
He said , based on the plan of Omaleng, an international airport would be built in that area.
Marianus Maknaipeku , a leader of the Kamoro tribe said he appreciated the decision of Omaleng saying the decision would better guarantee the future of the younger generation of the community in Mimika.
PT PAL was licensed to open oil palm plantation over a concession of 39,000 hectares. The concession covered area between the Kamoro river in the east and Mimika river in the west of the Trans Timika-Paniai highway.
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