Our Issues

ISSUES THAT GUIDE OUR WORK

The integration of Melanesian states into the western neoliberal paradigm has led to a struggle of sovereign control over natural resources, often neglecting the practices of cultural and traditional resource governance of Indigenous peoples. The constant push for grabbing our resources , through logging, mining our land-based minerals, deforestation for mono-agriculture, and extraction of liquefied natural gas by industrialized and developing countries in Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, China) and Australia, has and is leading to the displacement of Indigenous peoples from their ancestral land. It doesn’t just stop there. The Pacific Ocean is now on the radar of the industrialized states of the global north, pivoting the advent of seabed mining for rare earth minerals and the fisheries sector. Industrial fishing fleets from the European Union and mining companies from Canada are trying to take advantage of the new development paradigm of the Blue Economy - funded by industrialized countries including international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Complicating matters further, the issue of self-determination is still outstanding in the Melanesian region. West Papua is still colonized by Indonesia- going into its 60th year of oppressing the people of West Papua; New Caledonia is still under the rule of France with all referendum attempts leading to independence failing; Bougainville is now transitioning to independence after the overwhelming vote in the last referendum. The transition to independence from Papua New Guinea will take time. Again, these are resource rich states.

Government policies continuously threaten Melanesian Indigenous rights to our self-determination, livelihood, culture and to our ancestral lands and territories. This enables exploitation and extraction of our natural resources to pump revenues into foreign economies. Exploitation of our resources continues despite the ongoing warnings of ecological disasters by Melanesian peoples. These warnings falling on deaf ears. These are some of the bitter pills of development that have been forced down our regional government throats in the name of development and progress.

But it is not all doom and gloom. Despite ongoing assault on our Indigenous rights, Melanesians have challenged both institutions and governments that have attempted to deny us our rights and we have successfully protected what is rightfully ours.  Ongoing support for the self-determination of Melanesian peoples is gaining more attention by spotlighting the greed of colonial powers, who insist on maintaining territories to access our natural resources and their obsession with continuing to oppress Melanesian peoples.

MILDA is connecting Melanesia and building networks locally; nationally and regionally to keep our people informed on the common issues affecting them and asserting their power and control over land and resources. MILDA will also stand in solidarity with those who are advocating for their political freedom such as West Papua, Kanaky New Caledonia and Bougainville.