The Papun Island unwilling to give Elon Musk Space X launch site fearing the ecosystem drain
The Papuan island abanded Elon Musk’s wish of a potential launch site on their coast. The people are unwelcoming towards Tesla’s billionaire CEO using their land for his offerings.
According to them, the company’s presence would devastate their island ecosystem and drive people from their homes.
In December, Joko Widodo, Indonesia President, offered Musk to use a small part of Biak island in Papua. In contrary to locals, Indonesian official believes Musk’s project will fringe benefit to the nation.
An Indonesian government representative told the media the planned spaceport was developed in consultation with the Papuan government and local communities, Biak’s development as a “Space Island” would “bring positive economic impacts” for islanders, they added.
But Papuans on Biak are fiercely opposed, arguing a space launchpad will drive deforestation, increase Indonesian military presence, and threaten their future on the island. A tribal chief on the island, Manfun Sroyer, said he feared Papuans will be forced from their homes.
“This spaceport will cost us our traditional hunting grounds, damaging the nature our way of life depends on. But, if we protest, we’ll be arrested immediately.”
Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, also aims to develop a large rocket launch site on Biak island by 2024.
The Papuan island in Indonesia is blessed with a plethora of resources that may benefit the Technological advances. Hence, it is the center of attraction for various scientific development aimed by various countries.
