THE struggle of five indigenous women proves that women cannot be confined to the kitchen, the well and the yard. They have become the frontline in opposing the wrecking of customary forests in the name of development.

In Ampera village, Boven Digoel, Papua, for example, Rikaarda Maa is calling for people to oppose Indo Asiana Lestari, which wants to extend the area of its oil palm plantation into the customary forest of the