Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) is a project for use of a big area for industry and also palm oil and food crops agriculture in Merauke Regency, South Papua province.
In 2010, up to 90% of the area was still covered by natural forest.[1] The MIFEE project is expected to cover a 1.2 million hectare area, or a quarter of Merauke.[2] The presence of a large number of army units in the MIFEE area, which testifies the role of the military in protecting the interests of foreign investors against the local population.[1] There is a major involvement of Indonesian agribusiness conglomerates.[1] MIFEE involves land grabbing.[1] There is much indigenous opposition to the MIFEE project.[1] The project threatens conservation areas, such as virgin forests and water catchment areas, as well as the habitat of indigenous peoples in Papua.[3] There were substantial forest fires.[2] MIFEE is valued at approximately $5 billion and aims to dramatically increase agricultural output.[4] Damage to the natural environment caused by the industrial activities of agribusinesses and palm oil plantations has severely affected the health and food security of these indigenous groups.[4] The migrants involved in the project will dwarf Merauke's indigenous population.[5] Violence was used for land ownership.[6] MIFEE involves intensive land clearing.[7] It is likely to increase marginalization of traditional communities.[7] The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called for a suspension of the project, until there is a free, informed consent by the indigenous population.[8]