The abuse of the Papuano people by the Indonesian government is one of the worst atrocities of our times. Did you know? They, the western Papuans, call it “silent genocide”, or even “eco -food”, to outline the dismemberment of their lands by thread and by sign.
The western Papua, in fact, is a region rich in natural resources, hosts the third largest rainforest in the world and an abundant reserve of minerals, including the largest field of gold and copper in the world. His major damnation, however, is that he has been part of Indonesia since 1963 and his indigenous populations of that wealth have never enjoyed, between violations of human rights and exploits to economic purposes.
Economic purposes to which above all responds the expansion of the oil palm plantations dramatically, which led to a massive deforestation in the region. The lands that were once the natural habitat of hundreds of animal and vegetable species have been demolished to make room for the crops intended for the production of palm oil, used in products that we consume globally, including i KitkatThe Oreothe crackers Ritz and beauty products Pantene And Herbal Essences.
The (not) rights of the natives in Indonesia
According to the international working group for indigenous affairs (IWgia), Indonesia hosts about 50-70 million indigenous peoples, or from 18% to 19% of the Indonesian population. Although there is a law here “recognizes and respects the unity and integrity of indigenous and tribal peoples“, The reality is that recognition and respect for the indigenous peoples of the nation are still very below expectations.
Although Indonesia is a signatory of the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (UDRIP), government officials argue that the concept of indigenous peoples is not applicable to the country, rejecting the requests to consider the specific needs of the groups that are identified as indigenous people. The international organization of work convention 169, convention on indigenous and tribal peoples also provides indications on the right to self -determination of indigenous peoples, but unfortunately Indonesia has not ratified this treaty.
There is still a lot of work to do in Indonesia on the rights of indigenous peoples.
The boycott
And so, the natives ask for the boycott of Kitkat and other products in response to that serious environmental damage. Activists, including many members of the indigenous tribes of western Papua, argue that the use of palm oil from these lands is feeding an eco -food that has pushed many local communities to be evicted from the places where they have lived for centuries, threatened by violence and repression. This forced exodus is at the center of the protest: eco -food is not only an environmental crime, but a violation of human rights of indigenous populations.
The campaign for the boycott of Kitkat and other products containing palm oil coming from the western Papua has obtained growing global support: Otre 90 indigenous tribes and numerous political and religious organizations have joined the cause, asking for the end of environmental devastation and human rights violations.
The movement is not limited to the protection of the environment, but Also claims the right to self -determination of the Western Papua people: activists denounce that the Indonesian occupation of the Region represents not only a political problem, but also a case of modern colonialism, with the appropriation of natural wealth without the consent of local populations.
According to data, over 500,000 people died due to violence and persecutions towards the natives in the last sixty years. At the same time, millions of earth acres have been demolished to make room for plantations, mines and other economic activities.
The companies involved responded in various ways: Nestlé hastened to declare to respect rigid standards to ensure a chain of palm oil supply without causing deforestation, while – in the face of the accusations – the Indonesian authorities have tried to reduce the problem, claiming that the oil palm plantations are fundamental for the economic development of the region. But for the indigenous populations of Western Papua, this justification is unacceptable.
Kitkat’s boycott, therefore, is not only a protest against a single product, but a cry of alarm against a system that allows multinationals to exploit natural resources without respecting the rights of people who live in those territories. The indigenous populations ask that their right to live in the lands that historically belong to them, without having to suffer violence, repression and the destruction of their natural resources be recognized.
