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Indigenous communities fear eviction amid investment push as rights bill remains on back burner
The government’s reluctance to submit its assessment has meant the deliberation of the bill has been put hold, leaving indigenous people vulnerable to eviction as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo seeks to attract foreign investment, including into the extractive sector.
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On the edge: A family of the Orang Rimba tribe lives in a flimsy hut deep in the jungle of Jambi. The Indigenous People’s Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) said indigenous people in Indonesia often suffered discrimination and human rights violations by the government, especially regarding land disputes.
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(thejakartapost.com/Iman D.Nugroho)
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t has been more than 15 years since the House of Representatives officially proposed a bill on the legal protection of indigenous people. However, lawmakers have been unable to begin deliberations, as the government has not submitted its assessment of the bill.
The government’s reluctance to submit its assessment has meant the deliberation of the bill has been put hold, leaving indigenous people vulnerable to eviction as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo seeks to attract foreign investment, including into the extractive sector.
The bill, which has been included on the list of 34 bills in the National Legislative Program (Prolegnas) for 2020, would provide recognition of the customary laws of indigenous communities in certain matters, such as the management of natural resources and the distribution of inherited land.
The bill would also provide indigenous communities with assurances they would not be evicted from their land.
Secretary general of the Indigenous People's Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) Rukka Sombolinggi said she believed increased direct investment would result in increased demand for land.
She expressed concern the government’s ambitions would result in indigenous people being evicted from their lands, as demand for land would result in encroachment into indigenous settlements.
According to Article 18B of the 1945 Constitution, the government is prohibited from confiscating the land of indigenous communities as the country is obliged to respect their customary laws.
