Bandung, February 25, 2026 — The Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill reaffirmed the urgency of the ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU Masyarakat Atat) in a Public Discussion and Consolidation held at Padjadjaran University.
This activity brought together representatives of Indigenous communities, civil society organizations, academics, students, media, and legislative representatives to strengthen public support and develop strategic steps to accelerate the ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill which has been delayed for 16 years.
The existence of Indigenous Peoples and their traditional rights has been guaranteed in Article 18B paragraph (2) and Article 28I paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution. The mandate of the Constitution recognizes the existence and provides legal certainty to indigenous peoples through respect, protection, and recognition of rights. The Constitution records how indigenous peoples have contributed to Indonesia. Food sovereignty, customary law, caring for nature and various ways of preserving ancestral heritage such as in Sundanese land are the strength of Indigenous Peoples.
However, the fact is that for two decades the Indigenous Peoples Bill was included in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) in the House of Representatives without a clear political commitment. It can be said that the House of Representatives and the Government violated the constitution by ignoring the situation of indigenous peoples.
As a result, the communal values and traditional rights of indigenous peoples such as culture, spirituality, traditional knowledge, rights to land and customary territories, including the collective rights of indigenous women, are gradually becoming extinct. Indigenous peoples continue to suffer the effects of ecological damage due to land conversion, criminalization, and the dispossession of customary territories in the name of national interests.
The coalition assesses that the absence of a strong legal umbrella is what keeps Indigenous Peoples in a vulnerable position. Therefore, the Indigenous Peoples of the Sundanese Tatar are mobilizing to gather strength to oversee the process of passing the Indigenous Peoples Bill collectively as a solution to the common struggle.
This public discussion also emphasized that the ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill is a common agenda in fighting for the recognition of indigenous peoples is not only about protecting cultural identity, but also part of fighting for democracy.
For this reason, the Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill urges the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government to Immediately:
- Conduct discussions and ratify the Indigenous Peoples Bill in July 2026.
- Opening up a space for meaningful participation for Indigenous communities and civil society in the discussion process carried out by the Working Committee (PANJA) of the Indigenous Peoples Bill at the Legislation Body of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia.
- Stop the criminalization and seizure of customary territories during the discussion process.
- Stop the National Priority Program and the expansion of Environmental Destruction Companies that have an impact on the loss of living space for indigenous peoples.
About the Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill
The Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill is a network of civil society organizations, Indigenous communities, academics, and individuals who are committed to overseeing the legislative process and encouraging the acceleration of the ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill as part of strengthening democracy and protecting the constitutional rights of citizens.
Contact Person:
- Agetha +62 858 9140 9336 | Coalition Campaign Team Guards Indigenous Peoples Bill
- Gita +62 895-3971-60393 | Legal Counsel of the Coalition Team to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill
Disclaimer: This article was written in Indonesia and has been translated by Google Translate. In case of dispute or discrepancy, the original language of the article should prevail.
