goodmorningpapua.com – The Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN) urges that the government immediately ratify the Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU) which has been sitting in the DPR RI for 10 years.
The demands for the adoption of the Indigenous Peoples Bill are increasingly being voiced by indigenous peoples following the rampant cases of deprivationof traditional territories and structural violence throughout the country.
“If we look at the reality, the Indigenous Peoples Bill has been in the Indonesian House for more than 10 years, but there has been no encouraging development, while the seizure of traditional territories and criminalization of indigenous peoples continue to occur in this country,” said AMAN Secretary General, Rukka Sombolinggi in the KMAN VI conference, Tuesday, October 25, 2022.
According to Rukka, this law must be able to become the main holistic guide, which comprehensively regulates and ensures how the state fulfills, protects and advances the rights of indigenous peoples for mutual progress.
“If you still take a sectoral approach like what is happening now, you will not get a significant answer to the big problems faced by indigenous peoples, such as cases of expropriation of customary territories, violence against indigenous peoples,” he said.
Rukka also believes that passing the Bill on Indigenous Peoples at this time is one solution if you want to save Indonesia from things that are not good.
Ondoafi of Kampung Bambar, Origenes Kaway, welcomed the presence of participants who were quite enthusiastic about participating in a series of workshops on the Indigenous Peoples Bill in Obhe Kampung Bambar.
He hopes that the gathering can produce an outcome that is beneficial for the survival of the indigenous peoples of the archipelago.
Meanwhile, Mariana, one of the participants of KMAN VI from East Kalimantan said that the indigenous peoples had been waiting for the ratification of this Indigenous Peoples Bill.
Mariana hopes that the Bill on Indigenous Peoples will soon be ratified so that their lands in their customary territories are not taken by companies that want to expand for business activities.
He gave an example of their ancestral land that was recently taken over by the company. “My hope is that the Indigenous Peoples Bill will be ratified as soon as possible,” she said.
The same thing was conveyed by the participant of KMAN VI from Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, John B. Taxa that if the Bill on Indigenous Peoples was passed, they as indigenous peoples would be able to become full citizens.
“So far, who do we want to talk to, because there is no legal force. This Bill on Indigenous Peoples is very important to protect land and customary laws,” said John Taxa.
Jhon Taxa hopes that the central government and local governments will reaffirm the recognition of Indigenous Peoples in Indonesia so that our customary rights are not abused by entrepreneurs.
“The Indigenous Peoples Bill is our spirit, which we continue to push to be ratified immediately. We will continue to fight until the Indigenous Peoples Bill is passed,” he said.