The Prabowo-Gibran government is being urged to accelerate the recognition of rights to customary territories and the resolution of agrarian conflicts that have been held hostage.
“Various acts of land grabbing for the development of national strategic projects, business and other policies pro-foreign investors must be stopped immediately. The rights of indigenous peoples must be protected,” said Deputy Chair of the Indonesian MPR, Lestari Moerdijat in a written statement, Friday (11/10).
According to Lestari, the Prabowo-Gibran government has the opportunity to restore the sovereignty of the Indonesian nation over the land and natural resources it contains to realize prosperity, in accordance with the constitutional mandate, TAP MPR No IX of 2001 concerning Agrarian Reform and Management of Natural Resources and the Basic Agrarian Law of 2001. 1960.
Also read: Without a legal umbrella, the destruction of the living space of indigenous communities continues to occur
Apart from that, added Rerie, Lestari’s nickname, the next government must also be able to collaborate with the DPR RI to accelerate the ratification of the Indigenous Law Communities Bill into law.
“I really hope that the Prabowo-Gibran government and legislators in Senayan in the 2024-2029 period will be able to provide a comprehensive protection system for indigenous peoples in the archipelago,” said the member of the NasDem Party High Council.
Rerie, who is also a legislator from Electoral District II, Central Java, encouraged her colleagues in Senayan and the government to have the same concern to support efforts to preserve culture, access education according to local wisdom that respects language, values, and strengthens the identity of indigenous communities.
Also read: Urge to ratify the Indigenous Peoples Bill, AMAN: Every time our land is confiscated
Representatives of indigenous communities from all over Indonesia, on Thursday (11/10/2024) held a peaceful demonstration of the Movement to Guard Indigenous Peoples (Gerak Masa) in front of the DPR RI Building, Senayan, Jakarta, up to the State Palace.
Member of the DPR RI from the National Awakening Party faction, Daniel Johan, received the draft Indigenous Peoples Bill along with an academic text from representatives of indigenous communities. He promised that the Indigenous Peoples Bill, which has been stalled for more than 10 years, would enter Prolegnas and be passed into law.
“This struggle is a joint struggle. The Indigenous Peoples Bill is also an integral part of our enthusiasm to realize agrarian reform. So, I stated that those who do not agree with the Indigenous Peoples Bill will lose their lives,” said Daniel.
Also read: 20 Years Still Not Completed, Indigenous Law Communities Bill Urges to Be Ratified
Mass Actions were also held in a number of areas. Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the Maluku electoral district, Saadiah Uluputty, asked the government to be more responsive in dealing with the issues faced by indigenous peoples and committed to creating programs that are beneficial for them.
“Because speaking of indigenous peoples, they are often marginalized. They are not given space to live in prosperity on their own land. And I encourage that if there are conservation areas or state-owned forests, indigenous peoples can also be involved in protecting them,” explained Saadiah, after hearing the aspirations masses demonstrating in the Leimena Statue Roundabout Area, Poka, Ambon.
Saadiah also hopes that the new president or leadership will pay more attention to indigenous communities so they can live prosperously in their forest areas. (Ant/X-10)
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