Manokwari Indigenous Peoples Data Collection For Potential Gold Resources

The appearance of traditional mining activities in the Wasirawi area is one of the seven gold/VIA ANTARA gold-producing locations

MANOKWARI - Leaders of indigenous community groups in the Manokwari Regency, West Papua, took the initiative to collect data on potential gold resources so that they were managed traditionally through local traditional community cooperatives. "There are three cooperatives of indigenous peoples that have been formed, we together with the Indigenous Community Institution (LMA) and the Papuan Customary Council (DAP) took the initiative to collect gold potential data on our own customary land," said Pilemon Mosyoi, a traditional youth figure from Masni District in Manokwari, West Papua, quoted from Antara, Monday, September 26. The data collection step was taken because indigenous peoples had not yet received confirmation of a People's Mining Permit (IPR) from the local government, according to an agreement between indigenous peoples and the Regent of Manokwari Regency, Hermus Indou. "Until when do we have to wait for the interim IPR so far, our daily needs are very dependent on the traditional gold dulang results, or land rental costs by local entrepreneurs," said Mosyoi. He expressed his hope that the team to accelerate the management of the IPR formed by the Manokwari Regency Government to review the contents of the agreement between the government and the indigenous people who own the gold-producing Ulayat so that there is no vacuum. "There is an agreement that gold mining activities will be temporarily suspended while the IPR management process, but until now indigenous peoples have not received further information regarding the performance of the Manokwari Regional Government team," said Pilemon. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Masni Indigenous Community Institution (LMA), Soleman Manseni, stated that the indigenous people of seven gold-producing regions really depend on the management of gold potential in the area. "The indigenous people of the seven regions have no objection to gold mining activities, it's just that they haven't been well organized," said Soleman Manseni. Previously, Assistant I of the Manokwari Regency Government, Wanto, said that the Manokwari Regional Government team was preparing to conduct field surveys in seven gold-producing locations to be processed in IPR proposal documents to related ministries and institutions. Wanto admits that the Implementation Budget Draft (RAP) to support the team's performance has been approved by the Regent of Hermus Indou. "Currently, the team is still looking for transportation access to the location point for field surveys to be carried out. We ask for the support of the people who own the Ulayat to help the Manokwari Regional Government team in accelerating the IPR process," said Wanto. Previously, the agreement between the Regent of Manokwari and the Head of the LMA Masni District representing the seven tribal chiefs who owned the Wasirawi Ulayat, Waramui, Warmomi, Kali Kasi, Meyof, Wariori, and Meimas had been held on June 25, 2022 by parties at the Manokwari Regent's Office.