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Activists call for forest and indigenous people rights at W20 Summit
A number of activists staged a rally for forest and indigenous-communities' rights protection against deforestation and land exploitation near the Women 20 Summit, which was held in the Lake Toba region of Parapat, Simalungun regency, in North Sumatra, from Monday to Wednesday.
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Activists display posters protesting against forest exploitation on a boat on Lake Toba as the Women 20 Summit was held in Parapat, Simalungun regency, in North Sumatra, on July 20. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)
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number of activists staged a rally for forest and indigenous communities’ rights protection against deforestation and land exploitation near the Women 20 Summit, which was held in the Lake Toba region of Parapat, Simalungun regency, in North Sumatra, from Monday to Wednesday.
Protesters displayed banners and posters on a boat on the lake on Wednesday for two hours. There were no security personnel stopping them, but police confiscated the boat used by the activist following the action.
Greenpeace Indonesia campaigner Sekar Banjaran Aji said the activists were calling the Summit to also consider what was happening in the forest of North Sumatra as summit participants discuss gender equality, inclusive economics and marginalized women.
“Indigenous women in North Sumatra and almost all over Indonesia have long been the victims of structural inequality and exploitative development,” Sekar said.
She said that women were most vulnerable to losing their livelihood due to forest destruction and forced-land acquisition as well as against violence in land-conflict areas.
The W20 Summit focuses on developing solutions for empowering women as part of the series of events under Indonesia’s G20 presidency.
The Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) Tano Batak (Batak land) chairman Roganda Simanjuntak confirmed that forced-land acquisition still happens in the Batak community areas.
