- Authors: Yulianingsih Riswan
- From: Faculty of Philosophy, Gadjah Mada University
Abstract:
The mining of Grasberg, the world’s largest gold reserves, by Freeport-McMoran in 1967 gives wealth to the multinationals, central and provincial governments. The existence of the company, however, creates multitude of excesses which led to a new economic, social, political, and cultural marginalization of the indigenous people. Among them are the highest percentage of HIV/AIDS tolls in Indonesia and prevalent alcoholism. This paper generally explores the impacts of this aggressive capitalism to the life of the mountainous people of Wamena economically, socially and culturally and how they respond to it. It utilizes Derridean concept of hostipitality in order to shed light the ambiguous relationship between Papuan local people and the migrants coming to the land. Based on field research, it specifically exposes how Balim people respond to all the excesses of capitalist culture by the way they treat HIV/AIDS patients and alcoholics in their daily lives and while they are in death. Wamenans? resilience can also be seen from the creative using of mop or humorous satire to cope with the burden of lives.
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