Group to propose bill on indigenous people’s rights

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 08/11/2010 10:01 AM

Activists say they will plan to submit a draft bill on the rights of indigenous peoples to the House of Representatives by Aug. 20.

“Aside from the draft bill, we will present legislators with legal reviews, academic analysis, and summaries of issues related to Indonesia’s indigenous peoples,” Mahir Takaka, director of economic and socio-cultural programs for the Alliance of Archipelagic Indigenous People told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The alliance was in the process of finalizing a draft bill before formally asking legislators to approve it in 2011, Mahir said.

“We presented the draft bill to the House on Nov. 11, 2009. We are still consolidating input from other communities and are documenting their recommendations and concerns,” Mahir added.

“The input will be included in the draft bill,” Mahir said, adding that legislators had promised to prioritize the bill’s deliberation as part of the 2010-2014 national legislative agenda.

It would be the nation’s first bill to recognize and protect the rights of indigenous peoples. The bill proposes that the government and business sector are required to acknowledge and protect indigenous land rights, existing rights to natural resources, traditional laws and institutions, local knowledge and traditional social and cultural practices.

“The current laws, such as the 1999 Forestry Law and the 2007 Management of Coastal Territories and Small Islands Law only vaguely address indigenous issues,” Mahir said, adding that these laws did not provide sufficient protection for marginalized traditional communities.

The alliance is competing with a similar bill drafter by the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Committee I, which Mahir believes does not adequately accommodate the aspirations of traditional communities.

“The draft bill circulated by the DPD committee needs revision because it doesn’t clearly define what indigenous communities actually are, nor does it consider the current state of customary land rights and philosophical perspectives,” Mahir said.

According to the alliance, Indonesia is home to between 50 and 70 million indigenous people, which is the largest indigenous population in Asia. Most live in remote forest areas and are often in conflict with authorities and businesses due to lack of formal rights.

Indonesia has ratified the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, but has yet to demonstrate its commitment in its national policies, alliance secretary-general Abdon Nababan said.

“The amended Constitution says the state recognizes and respects customary communities and their traditional rights. On this basis, the country must provide a legal umbrella that protects such communities and their wellbeing,” Abdon said on Aug. 9, at the commemoration of the International Day of World Indigenous Peoples held at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta. (tsy)

Churches step in to protect indigenous people’s rights

Arghea D. Hapsari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 01/30/2010 9:43 PM | National

Mimika councilor Athanasius Allo Rafra shakes hands with a representative from two tribes during an attempted peace deal at Mambruk complex, Mimika, Papua on Monday. (JP/Markus Makur)

A forum of Catholic churches has stepped in to fill the gap left by the government’s tardy responses in protecting the rights of indigenous people, especially in Papua and Kalimantan, where exploitation of natural resources is rampant.

A public seminar was held on Friday to mark the start of the forum’s 6-month journey to advocate in the recovery of the people’s rights. Other activities will include focus group discussions involving mass organizations, churches and indigenous people in the two natural resource-rich territories. A national advocacy is slated for June.

The forum’s chairman, Mgr. Agustinus Agus, said Saturday the national advocacy program was aimed at enhancing public’s understanding of the indigenous people’s real conditions.

“We also want to invite concrete national and international supports to join the fight for justice and peace and restore the people’s rights,” he added.

The Social Services Ministry has registered 229,479 families of indigenous people living in 2,650 locations in 30 provinces across the country.

Some Dayak people acquire traditional hand-tapped tattoos to express their tribal and cultural identity. (Photo courtesy of Aman Durga Sipatiti)

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Jambi's Orang Rimba: Indonesia Forest Dwellers Fighting to Survive the Crush of Modernity

Jambi' Orang Rimba family, Sumatra.
(Photo: Tiger Patrol unit / WWF Indonesia)

Indigenous people get ‘20%’ REDD money

Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post | Fri, 01/29/2010 10:23 AM

At least 20 percent of revenue from the forest carbon scheme should be transferred to indigenous people who play crucial roles in protecting the forest to avoid emission leakages, a minister said.

State Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said that much revenue from the carbon trade was needed to ensure the sustainability of emission reduction in tackling climate change.

“Giving indigenous people a fair share also acknowledges their rights,” Gusti said.

He said the government could not leave the indigenous people behind in projects relating to the forest as they were at the forefront of environmental preservation.

Gusti said that indigenous people had great knowledge about how to protect the forest.

“The traditional people have long been conscious of the environment. It is important to include them in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation [REDD] projects,” he added.

REDD was expected to be an alternative to emission cuts from forests, which contributed about 20 percent to global emissions.

Under the scheme, countries that protect their forests can receive financial incentives through the carbon trade from rich nations.

However, debates on land and forest rights have been a hot topic at both national and international levels, mainly concerning efforts to mitigate global warming.

Activists said the unclear status of indigenous people and tribal communities managing forests would hamper the implementation of REDD programs.

The State Ministry for the Environment signed a memorandum of understanding with the Alliance of Archipelagic Indigenous People (AMAN) on environmental protection on Wednesday.

Gusti also inaugurated 35 indigenous people, also AMAN members, as the country’s ambassadors in protecting the environment.

AMAN secretary-general Abdon Nababan welcomed Gusti’s statement. “But our main concern is not on the percentage of revenue. We want the government to acknowledge the rights of indigenous people,” Abdon told The Jakarta Post.

There are currently 1,163 tribal communities in AMAN.

AMAN claimed that of Indonesia’s 210 million population, between 50 million and 70 million were part of customary communities earning their livelihood from forests.

Abdon said that the government continued to ignore communal rights by allowing natural resources of customary land and forests to be exploited.

Gusti said that about 20 percent of money from REDD projects should also be allocated to local administrations that controlled the forests.

“The remaining expected revenue from forest carbon trade will be for investors.

“Ten percent will go to the central government,” he said. The REDD scheme was expected to take effect in 2013.

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Jambi's Orang Rimba: Indonesia Forest Dwellers Fighting to Survive the Crush of Modernity

Jambi's Orang Rimba: Indonesia Forest Dwellers Fighting to Survive the Crush of Modernity

The Jakarta Globe

Jambi' Orang Rimba family, Sumatra.
(Photo: Tiger Patrol unit / WWF Indonesia)

Indonesia’s future is all about expansion. More power plants, toll roads, coal mines and palm oil plantations bring business, jobs and higher living standards, while contributing to the drive for modernization.

All of that is fine, unless you’re left out — or in the case of a small group of forest dwellers in central Sumatra, fighting a losing battle to prevent your culture from disappearing.

Such is the plight of the Orang Rimba, an indigenous, semi-nomadic tribe in Jambi. Their people number about 3,000, but with rapid conversion of land and rampant deforestation occurring, tribal leaders say they’re being squeezed out of their traditional home and losing their identity.

With the modern ways of the outside world thrust upon them, the Orang Rimba have created a two-faced identity to survive. The Jakarta Globe visited the tribe in its homeland and chronicled its members’ daily battle for food, clean water, proper health care and education for their children — all while trying to maintain ancient traditions.

Orang Rimba are easily recognized by their features and dress, with their long, ruffled hair and loincloths. The women mostly go topless. This ancient attire, nomadic life and lack of hygiene is mocked by outsiders as backward, earning slurs from non-indigenous villagers and transmigrants.

Though fed up with their treatment, the Orang Rimba still try to adjust to the modern world in some ways. Some wear T-shirts and pants, ride motorcycles and own cellphones.

However, more and more of tribe’s younger generation are being drawn toward modern life, even renouncing their animist beliefs and converting to Islam.

“We can’t avoid this, and it’s very likely we will lose this battle,” laments Tumenggung Tarib, a tribal leader.

Read our stories about the Rimba:

• Where Losing the Forest Means Losing Your Home
• School Can Be Daunting for Nomadic Children and Their Teachers
• Flower Scarcity Threatens Jungle Love
• Pollution, Plantations and Isolation Limit Tribe's Health Care Options

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