Jakarta, 18 December 2024 – The Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill urges the House of Representatives and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately pass the Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU MA) in 2025, so that the rights of Indigenous Peoples can be recognized and protected more effectively.

Currently, the Indigenous Peoples Bill has been re-entered in the list of priority National Legislation Programs (Prolegnas) for 2025 and included in the five-year Prolegnas proposed by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia. However, in the list of Prolegnas this bill still uses the phrase Customary Law Communities Bill. The Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill encourages the use of the phrase Indigenous Peoples to accommodate the nomenclature of Indigenous Law Peoples and Traditional Peoples in the constitution. As well as encouraging definite progress in efforts to ratify it.

Veni Siregar, Senior Campaign of Kaoem Telapak emphasized that the discussion and ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill is an important momentum for the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of Prabowo Subianto to show their alignment with Indigenous Peoples. “Recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples is a form of state responsibility in ensuring the sustainability of life and legal certainty for them. The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, especially the Legislation Body and the eight political party factions, must take strategic steps to continue to build constructive dialogue with the Peoples

Customary, so that the resulting Bill is able to answer the problems faced. The protection and fulfillment of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the midst of violence and criminalization must be a priority. The contribution of Indigenous Peoples in preserving the environment should also be appreciated.”

Veni added that the Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill will continue to conduct intensive oversight to ensure that the Indigenous Peoples Bill is passed in 2025.

Director of Policy, Legal and Human Rights Advocacy of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) Muhammad Arman said the ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill is the main way as well as a concrete action to realize the ideals of the establishment of the Indonesian state, namely protecting all bloodshed, and advancing the general welfare, including for Indigenous Peoples who have been marginalized.

“The ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill will provide legal certainty while creating equitable investment for all parties. The Indigenous Peoples Law is a ‘way home’ to affirm diverse nationalities and Indonesianness,” he said.

Furthermore, Arman explained the data collected by AMAN over the past 10 years, where there have been 687 agrarian connivits in customary territories, covering an area of 11.07 million hectares. These connivits not only seized customary land, but also resulted in 925 Indigenous Peoples becoming victims of criminalization. Of these, 60 people experienced violence committed by state officials, and even one person died.

According to Arman, the seizure of customary land is often carried out through large projects that are carried out without adequate consultation or approval, and ignores the principle of Informed Consent at the Beginning Without Coercion (Padiatapa/FPIC).

The Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill, which consists of 35 civil society organizations, emphasized that this bill is a great opportunity to remedy the injustices that continue to be experienced by Indigenous Peoples. In addition, this bill is also expected to be able to provide comprehensive legal protection, including recognition and protection of customary territories and customary forests that are the source of life and identity of Indigenous Peoples.

Juandi Gultom, from the Justice and Peace Division of the Fellowship of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), affirmed PGI’s support for the ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill. Juandi stated that Indigenous Peoples are the original owners as well as the legal owners of this country, but ironically they have been excluded by the state. “Indigenous Peoples are the original owners and legal owners of this country. However, they are excluded by the current state policy,” he said.

Furthermore, Juandi added that PGI is actively advocating to support the struggle of Indigenous Peoples. The PGI office has even become a common home for various complaints and requests for assistance submitted by Indigenous Peoples in fighting for their rights.

Ermelina Singereta, Advocacy Manager of the Association of Indigenous Defenders of the Archipelago (PPMAN) stated that the state’s neglect of legal protection for Indigenous Peoples, especially women, children, and vulnerable groups in defending their living space, is a tangible form of human rights violations.

“Many Indigenous Women have to deal with unfair laws. They are arrested, tried, and even punished for defending their rights and identity as Indigenous Women. For Indigenous Women, the law is like a mirage: it is clear but difficult to reach,” said Ermelina.

Ermelina emphasized that the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights is not only important from a justice perspective, but also has a key role in preserving global biodiversity. Indigenous territories are the last bastion for the world’s biodiversity, where an estimated 80% of global biodiversity is stored. With traditional knowledge inherited over thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have become irreplaceable guardians of nature and biological ecosystems.

Furthermore, Ermelina explained that the involvement of Indigenous Peoples in the management of indigenous territories contributes greatly to global efforts to preserve the environment, mitigate climate change, and protect ecosystems. In the midst of increasingly complex environmental challenges, the role of Youth

Customary Practices are very crucial as the next generation in preserving ancestral heritage. Indigenous Youth, according to him, is at the forefront of efforts to defend customary territories in the face of various increasingly complex challenges.

Hero Aprila, Chairman of the Nusantara Indigenous Youth Front (BPAN), emphasized that the existence of the Indigenous Peoples Law has an important role in answering various problems faced by Indigenous Youth in various sectors, ranging from politics and law, social and cultural, to economic independence and customary education.

“As the next generation, we, the Indigenous Youth, have a great responsibility in ensuring the sustainability of the management of customary territories that are sustainable and free from discrimination and intimidation. The absence of the Indigenous Peoples Law will only prolong the chain of injustice that has been going on for a long time. For us, the Indigenous Peoples Law is a real solution to answer the challenges we face,” said Hero.

The Coalition to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill consists of YLBHI, HuMa, Seknas WALHI, KPA, KEMITRAAN, ICEL, Debt Watch, PEREMPUAN AMAN, PUSAKA Foundation, Kaoem Telapak, Sustainable Madani Foundation, BRWA, JKPP, merDesa Institute, RMI, EPISTEMA, Greenpeace Indonesia, Lakpesdam NU, KIARA,

LOKATARU, Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), Sawit Watch, PPMAN, Barisan Pemuda Adat Nusantara (BPAN), Women’s Journal Foundation (YPJ), Forum of Coastal and Small Island Indigenous Peoples (Format-P), Kalyanamitra, Indonesian Women’s Coalition (KPI), SATUNAMA, Protection International Indonesia, KKC Persekutuan of Indonesian Churches (PGI), Working Group ICCAs Indonesia, AMAN, Samdhana, EcoAdat.

Media Contact:

• A.P. Prayoga, Coalition Campaign Team to Guard the Indigenous Peoples Bill, HP. 0857 2034 6154
• Veni Siregar, Senior Campaign of Kaoem Telapak, HP. 0838-9344-5587

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.