By: Rakhmat Nur Hakim, PARTNERSHIP
The Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) through the Acceleration Working Team formed to accelerate the discussion of the DPD RI Priority Bills (RUU) affirmed its commitment to accelerate the deliberation and ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bills. For your information, the DPD RI has had a draft of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Protection Bill since 2018 as initial material.
The Head of the DPD RI Acceleration Working Team, Teras Narang, said that as a regional representative institution, the DPD RI views it as important to have a law that comprehensively regulates the recognition, protection, empowerment, and active role of Indigenous Peoples in national development and the formation of just state policies.
This is what led the DPD RI through the Acceleration Working Team to hold a discussion activity with the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) and KEMITRAAN at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (28/04/2025).
"However, it must be realized that the existing process is not easy and there are many challenges to be faced," said Teras Narang.
In the discussion, AMAN represented by Rukka Sombolinggi said that the existence of this bill is very crucial considering that so far there has been no legal umbrella. As a result, there have been many violations of the rights of indigenous peoples.
A number of agrarian conflicts in customary areas in the last decade have been recorded as reaching 678 cases with the impact of losing customary areas covering 11.07 million hectares. This shows the importance of the presence of the state through firm and fair regulations. AMAN also highlighted that the draft bill prepared by the DPD RI has approached the needs of indigenous peoples. To follow up on this, the Secretary of the Acceleration Team, Abdul Kholik emphasized the need for valid data on violations of indigenous peoples' rights and discussion time to perfect the existing draft bill.
However, improvements are still needed, especially regarding synchronization with other sectoral laws. AMAN representatives also emphasized the importance of removing the stigma that indigenous peoples are anti-development, considering the reality that indigenous peoples support development that respects their customary rights and territories.
Meanwhile, KEMITRAAN represented by Moch. Yasir Sani added that for more than three decades, the discussion of the Indigenous Peoples Bill has continued to go round and round in the DPR and the government without any clarity on ratification.
"We consider that this bill does not only talk about the past or current conditions, but must be able to design the future of indigenous communities that are adaptive to changing times, paying attention to aspects of inclusivity such as the role of women, people with disabilities, and children in indigenous communities," said Moch. Yasir Sani.
In addition, it was also conveyed the importance of improving several aspects of the Indigenous Peoples Bill, including adding a chapter on good governance of indigenous peoples, such as simplifying the mechanism for recognizing indigenous rights to make it easier, cheaper, and legal, as well as ensuring the role of civil society organizations in advocacy and protection of indigenous peoples' rights.
The drafting of this bill is also appreciated for using an object approach other than a subject, which is expected to recognize the position of indigenous peoples who have been marginalized. Acceleration Team member, Ismeth Abdullah, said that this bill must strengthen national unity without opening up new gaps of conflict, and there needs to be a redefinition of indigenous peoples to be more relevant to investment developments and socio-cultural changes.
Meanwhile, Acceleration Team Member, Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra highlighted that customary interests with national development should not be in conflict and should instead be integrated. This is in line with another Acceleration Team Member, Bisri As Shiddiq Latuconsina, who said that through indigenous communities a sense of nationalism was born which became thoughts about equality, justice, and welfare that must be realized together. Meanwhile, another Acceleration Team Member, Amirul Tamim, highlighted the title of the appropriate bill. According to him, the choice of the appropriate title will need to be discussed further.
Finally, through this discussion, the DPD RI as well as AMAN and KEMITRAAN hope that the Indigenous Peoples Bill can be immediately discussed and passed into law in 2025 as a real manifestation of the state's presence in recognizing, protecting, and empowering indigenous peoples throughout the archipelago.
