Anticipated, the Government's Commitment to Pass the Indigenous Peoples Bill

The government's commitment to pass the Indigenous Peoples Bill is awaited. This regulation can protect indigenous peoples while preventing conflicts, including over land issues.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/RENY SRI AYU

The men perform the pasaapu dance before starting the Tunu Panroli ritual in the Kajang Indigenous Area, Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, in mid-September 2018.

MAKASSAR, KOMPAS - The Indigenous People Bill has not been ratified despite being discussed since 2019. This law can sustain indigenous communities and minimize various conflicts in the region, including conflicts between indigenous communities and investors.

This was raised at a Seminar Encouraging the Approval of the Indigenous Peoples Draft Law and the Expansion of the Birth of Regional Legal Products for the Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Peoples' Rights in South Sulawesi. The seminar was held by the Archipelago Indigenous Peoples Alliance (AMAN) of South Sulawesi in Makassar on Friday (July 28th, 2023).

The Chairman of the Daily Management of AMAN Sulsel, Sardi Razak, stated that the purpose of forming the Indigenous People's Law is to restore the relationship between the state and indigenous communities. In addition, it recognizes the indigenous community and their traditional rights and straightens the recognition route that is regulated in various sectoral regulations.

The recognition of indigenous communities and the formation of laws will be the basis for the government to establish various activities and policies. "In cases of land conflicts between indigenous communities and investors or the government, with the existence of laws, it will serve as a reference and legal basis for all parties to comply with what can and cannot be violated," he said.

KOMPAS/RENY SRI AYU ARMAN

The atmosphere of the Indigenous People's Bill Seminar held in Makassar on Friday (28/7/2023).

The Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Hasanuddin University, Sukri Tamma, who was one of the speakers, assessed that the different commitments, interests, and perspectives regarding indigenous communities have made the ratification of this bill difficult.

However, this bill needs to be pushed as a form of the state's commitment. With recognition, indigenous peoples can determine and regulate themselves, be independent, and no longer be marginalized because they are governed at a higher policy level with its various consequences through the law.

“Indigenous peoples have values ​​that have survived to this day. For example during a pandemic, they can survive. They also have unique and distinctive basic values ​​as the basis for behavior related to the survival of their community. The existence of indigenous peoples is related to the ability to maintain and develop life systems and is a priority as well as a strategy in maintaining their existence," he said.

He also reminded that indigenous peoples are one of the elements that form the social and national structure for Indonesia. According to him, the existence of indigenous peoples is recognized by the world, but in Indonesia the rules have not even been ratified. In this case, regulation is not the end goal, but it can be a way for wider access.

KOMPAS/RENY SRI AYU

The women of the Kajang tribe are preparing offerings and a feast to be held during the Andingingi ritual in the Kajang Traditional Area, Bulukumba, in mid-September 2018.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Nur Salam, the Functional Officer of Environmental Supervision at the Sulawesi Selatan Environmental and Forestry Agency (DLHK), stated that the Sulawesi Selatan government supports regulations related to indigenous communities.

"The policy of the South Sulawesi Provincial Government in the Strategic Plan includes the recognition of customary forest communities and local wisdom, traditional knowledge, and the rights of indigenous communities. Regarding customary forests, we also understand that their existence can improve the welfare of indigenous communities. Therefore, they must be protected," he said.

He said that so far the South Sulawesi DLHK had signed a cooperation agreement with AMAN regarding the identification of indigenous peoples, the development of data and information systems for indigenous peoples, and capacity building. Apart from that, DLHK is also given access to the Customary Territory Registration Agency to input data, where 24 districts/cities in South Sulawesi can input data in their respective regions. respectively.