Resistance and counter hegemony of Ma'ya tribe to bureaucratic hegemony practices in Raja Ampat, West Papua

Abstract

The establishment of a regional marine conservation area in Raja Ampat is a hegemonic practice carried out by the Raja Ampat bureaucracy with conservation NGOs, such as TNC and CI which has reaped various responses. There are people who accept the presence of conservation areas and those who do not. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the resistance and counter-hegemony responses of the Ma'ya tribe in the conservation area to the practice of bureaucratic hegemony in Raja Ampat, West Papua. The research was conducted using a qualitative descriptive method. Data collection by observation, in-depth interviews, FGD and documentation, and the results of the research are presented in a descriptive narrative. The results of the study show that the resistance of the Ma'ya tribe in Raja Ampat to bureaucratic hegemony in the conservation area is through blocking and taking over the monitoring post of the conservation area; prosecution of customary land rights, and reluctance to involve themselves in conservation activities. Counter-hegemony practices are carried out through the formation of customary fishing areas and the struggle for the establishment of regional regulations regarding the rights of indigenous Ma'ya tribes.