Raja Ampat Is Not For Sale!!!

written by Eva Alya Zahra

I can no longer sit quietly while one of the most breathtaking, biologically rich, and spiritually sacred places in Indonesia is being picked apart in the name of profit. Let me say this with absolute clarity: Raja Ampat must be completely protected from mining—no exceptions, no compromises.

Yes, the government recently revoked four nickel mining permits in the area. But don’t be fooled—this wasn’t an act of conscience. It was a reaction, not a reform. A calculated response to mounting public outrage. And while the headlines may seem promising, the truth is grim: one company, PT Gag Nikel, still holds an active permit and continues to operate on Gag Island.

That alone tells us everything we need to know about our priorities as a nation. Apparently, even Indonesia’s crown jewel is negotiable—so long as the price is right.

I reject that logic. I reject a development model that weighs biodiversity against bank balances, Indigenous rights against investor confidence. We are told that nickel mining is necessary for the “green” economy, that electric vehicles will save the planet. But what kind of green transition destroys coral reefs and ancestral lands? That is not sustainability. That is greenwashing.

Let’s not pretend this is about balancing development with nature. This is about greed, plain and simple. And far too often, greed gets what it wants—disguised in legal language, wrapped in political PR, and delivered with a smile.

And I’m tired of pretending this is acceptable.

Let me ask you: What good is a green product if it's built on a dead reef?

What good is “progress” if it erases Indigenous cultures and poisons the ocean?

The communities in Raja Ampat—who have lived in harmony with the sea for generations—have spoken. They’ve said no to mining. Loudly. Repeatedly. So why aren’t we listening? What gives corporations the right to override their voices? Their dignity? Their future?

I stand with them. And I believe many Indonesians do too.

It’s time we reject the false binary of “development versus environment.” Real progress doesn’t come from destroying what cannot be replaced. Real progress honors limits, listens to the land, and respects those who protect it.

Some places must remain untouched. Raja Ampat is one of them.

This isn’t just about protecting a few islands or saving a few fish. This is about our values. This is about who we are—what kind of country we want to be, and what kind of future we’re willing to fight for.

So I’m drawing my line:

If our government won’t protect Raja Ampat, then we must.

If the law allows destruction, then it is the law that must change.

Because once it’s gone, we lose more than just reefs—we lose a piece of ourselves.

And I, for one, refuse to let that happen.