Gastro-colonialism in Merauke

The powerlessness of local people to meet their nutritional intake is worsened by the flooding of instant food that has increased their suffering.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

A child prepares to eat rice at a bivouac in the Animha District, Merauke Regency, Papua, Wednesday (9/11/2022). The children are usually invited by their parents to live in the bivouac for six days and on weekends they will return to their village and return again at the beginning of the week.

Merauke’s expanse of flat land, abundant water springs and fertile soil have long been perceived as potential for large-scale agriculture. Merauke is not a vacant space. Around the forest and marshy land, the Marind Anim community has been living for tens of thousands of years as hunters and gatherers of food.