Kimaam Island: Rich but Poor (WARNING: Graphic violence)

by Wensislaus Fatubun

Kimaam island, also called Frederik Hendrik Island, Dolok island, Yosudarso and Kolepom, covers an area of 14,357 km. Most of its area i s swampy. This island is separated from southwest Irian Jaya by Muli strait (now popularly known as Princes Marianne strait). This island was formed by sediment settled from Digul river. Therefore, the north and central of the island are more highlands than in the south and west. Kimaam island is a wet land area consisting of mangrove ecosystem, savanna, swamp and monsoon forests.

Kimaam Island is blessed with natural resources. Looking at its biodiversity, this region is remarkable home for fauna; birds, fish, crocodile, deer and kangaroo. The south coast region is the main habitat for different kinds of crocodile. The availability of hydrology and vast mangrove tree plant in the coastal areas and along the river stream indicates that the area is an ideal place for the lives of sea fauna; fish, shrimps and crab. Besides its natural resources, the Kimaam island inhabitants have uniqueness, harvesting on the swamps. Koenjaraninggrat writes in his book about the indigenous Kimaam harvesting on the swamp. J Boelar also once wrote about similar uniqueness in his book “Manusia Irian: Masa Lampau, Kini dan Akan Datang” (Irianesse: The Past, Present and Future). People inhabiting the south coast rich Kimaam Island are now experiencing a number of problems such as lack of human resources, inadequate health service, natural resources related conflicts, high poverty rate, high illiteracy rate, high mother and child mortality rate. In short, the richness of natural resources does not bring welfare and prosperity to the indigenous people.

In 2006, Office for Justice and Peace, Merauke Archdiocese (SKP-KAM) published “Lives Portrayal and Conflict of Natural Resources in Kimaam.” This is a report about the lives of people in Kimaam island surrounded by various natural resources conflicts. The findings illustrate that the erroneous local government policy concept has created conflicts such as the conflicts of tribal land property borders, bloody Maskura in 2003 and bloody Korimen-Kontura in 2001-2003. The facts needs to be revealed and should get our attention. We need to care of the mothers and children who die from disease and malnutrition. We should understand that it is not the fate imposed by God on them rather it is due to our mistakes and negligence. Paulus Levitar, one of the Waan villagers and a voluntary teacher, told SKP-KAM investigators about his concern that “If we are sick, shard of bottle is our medicine. We use bottle shard to slice our body so that the dirty blood can escape. Doctor, nurse or any medical staffs almost never visit us here. This poor health condition was exacerbated with the poor education situation. In Kamaan the illiteracy rate is very high because teachers always leave their job for a long time.

The presence of “Non Papuans”

The southern beach of Kimaam island is rich in sea resources. It attracts many people to come, creating more heterogeneous population. Most of the non Papuans come to Kimaam island are from Bugis, Makasar, Maluku and Java. They live in northern beach of Kimaam island, especially in Waan and Konorau village. With economy improvement as the main motive, they come to look for sea resources such as fish and crocodile and then sell to fishing ship from PT. Djarma Aru. They also usually conduct a barter system-changing the for sale things with the resources the community catch.

Natural Resources Conflict

On 21 December 2006, an accident of torture occurred against 14 Konorau villagers of southern beach Kimaam island. Based on the investigation undertaken by SKP-KAM 9-15 February 2007, it shows that the perpetrators were Thomas Wanggai, an Indonesia Military officer, Abukasim, a Malukunese. Kimaam Island with the main motive is relating to natural resources. The question is why natural resources could be the triggering factor in the area? The answer is because southern beach of Kimaam island is famous for its natural resources. This richness has inspired many people, particularly non Papuans to come to take the available resources such as fish, shrimps and crocodiles. The presence of non Papuans has caused the native Kimaam marginalized. The marginalization has touched all aspects such as economy, education and culture as a result of the low human resources as compared to the non-Papuans’. The non Papuans are starting to use and manipulate the natives Kimaam. This disability of native Kimaam is clearly indicated by their inability to manage the natural resources. The question is why the native community is unable to manage the natural resources? Based on the date collected, it clearly shows that there are two major causes. First, the native communities still preserve the subsystem economy system and the second is the teaching-learning process does not take place in southern beach of Kimaam island.

Conflict of Tribal’s Land borders

Tribal land borders keeps haunting community in southern beach of Kimaam island. It still becomes a main problem. Based on the SKP-KAM investigation, the tribal land problems was a result of government policy which does not accommodate the local potency such as in the policy about village-ation and village extensions in Kimaam island. A clear example of the situation is in Waan and Konorau villages. SKP-KAM investigated and found that the tribal land of Waan village, administratively belongs to Konorau village and vice versa. This problem was getting complicated with the presence of fishing ships from Djarma Aru Company and “non Papuans, who catch fish without asking permission from the tribal land owners. Another strategy used by non Papuans is taking the natives Kimaam as their wives in order to have access for the sea resources and the tribal lands as experienced by Abukasim. If the problem is not solved soon, the rich island with its resources and people will be extinct. The extinction of the natives in this island is on going and “do we let this extinction process keep going on? I hope we still have heart to prevent this deliberate action. Therefore, let us show our care to Kimaam island and to the people there. It is much better if we take an action now or we will be late.