Resource extraction as a tool of racism in West Papua

The role that resource extraction, particularly mining and oil palm plantation, has played in enabling a form of racism in West Papua is presented. The history of mining projects in West Papua, and how this has displaced indigenous populations, is covered. This development of mining reserves and oil palm plantations at the expense and the destruction of indigenous life is discussed. This process has relied on a dehumanisation of indigenous people, and an ignorance of their agency in determining their own needs. The effects of resource extraction, on cultural sustainability, and its supplantation with industrial colonialism is presented as a form of racism; concepts of ‘industrial racism’ and ‘industrial colonisation’ are introduced within this context. It is demonstrated that this racism has been both explicitly and implicitly supported by Western and Global South governments, highlighting the need for a voice for indigenous groups in self-determination. The more recent reparations to help achieve self-determination, even in this modern context of understanding, are shown to have a colonial approach. The view that matters have improved, through various awards for sustainability, is presented and critiqued, demonstrating the conflict between that view and that of the indigenous within a colonial power structure.