Track: Master Thesis Competition

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine the impact of forest burning for the Malind’s tribe in Merauke, Papua, which is thought to have “intentionally” done by Korindo Group in Papua in order to expand palm oil plantation. This company is well-known as the subsidiary of the chaebol (a hereditary conglomerate family business) based in South Korea. For the Malinds, the forest is not the only hanging place for them to fulfill livestock and agricultural needs for years but also a sacred place where several rituals are held. Forest is also perceived to be the ancestral graveyard of particular clans which then becomes an indicator of legitimate customary rights of ownership. Thus, the forest burning activities have resulted in great ecological catastrophes that lead to the destruction of the economic and religious cultural life of the indigenous. In this paper, I use “political ecology” as a theoretical framework for analysis which I believe, could benefit to reveal understand the social relations of production, access to and control over resources also the power relation rooted in this issue.