Masters in their Own Land
It is said that every inch of Papua’s soil is covered with gold. But, the mines are rarely managed by locals. What kind of challenges do they face?
February 24, 2010
TAUFIK Yuniarso, along with Berth Muhrib, a Dani tribe chieftain, began their traditional gold mining activity in Papua in 2004. At first, Taufik ran an airborne logistic supply business. He installed communication devices, and sent various items such as rice grains and heavy machinery to the mountaintops. “Land access is out of the question, so all transportation is carried out by air,” explained Taufik. As his business progressed, he became
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