Manokwari (ANTARA) - The Chairman of Committee III of the DPD RI,\nFilep Wamafma, has recommended eight critical points in the discussion\nof the Agrarian Reform Regulation Bill to accommodate the protection of\nrights and the specificities of Papuan indigenous communities.<\/p>\n
Firstly, there needs to be a specific chapter regarding the\nimplementation of agrarian reform within the special autonomy (otsus)\nregion of Papua. Secondly, a non-regression clause must be included to\nensure that no provision in the Bill reduces the protection of\nindigenous rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the protection of Papuan customary law communities is\nalready guaranteed through Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning Papua Special\nAutonomy,\u201d said Filep in Manokwari, West Papua, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The third point, according to Filep, is that customary land rights\n(hak ulayat) must be affirmed in the Agrarian Reform Regulation Bill as\nthe ancestral rights of indigenous communities in Papua, rather than\nmerely being objects of land redistribution.<\/p>\n
Fourthly, the recognition and mapping of customary territories must\nbecome a prerequisite before the granting of permits, concessions, or\nthe implementation of strategic projects within indigenous areas.\nFifthly, the establishment of FPIC as a mandatory principle for the\nutilisation of customary territories.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Agrarian Reform Bill must regulate the principle of Free, Prior\nand Informed Consent (FPIC),\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Seventhly, indigenous women and vulnerable groups need to be\nconsidered as recipients of affirmative protection in every agrarian\nreform process. Eighthly, an evaluation of all permits and concessions\nthat overlap with customary territories must be conducted.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgrarian reform must serve as an instrument to strengthen special\nautonomy, recognise the ancestral rights of indigenous communities,\nresolve past conflicts, and ensure that development does not eliminate\nthe living space of indigenous peoples,\u201d said Filep.<\/p>\n
According to him, before the Agrarian Reform Bill is passed, the\nHouse of Representatives (DPR RI) and the central government must ensure\nthat all norms related to Papuan indigenous communities do not\ncontradict the spirit of the Papua Special Autonomy Law.<\/p>\n
The Bill must provide mechanisms for identifying the root causes of\nconflict, verifying historical land possession, mapping, verifying\nindigenous community consent, and making decisions regarding recovery,\nrestitution, compensation, and the restoration of livelihoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cPapuan customary land is not vacant land; it has owners, history,\nlaw, identity, and generations that must be protected by the state,\u201d\nsaid the senator from West Papua.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dpd-ri-recommends-eight-key-points-for-agrarian-reform-bill-discussion-1789228653", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }