DPR RI Commission III member I Nyoman Parta has once again voiced the\nurgency of passing the Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU Masyarakat Adat).\nDuring a meeting with a civil society coalition at the DPR RI building,\nParta stressed that this regulation is not merely an ordinary\nlegislative agenda but a constitutional debt that must be settled\nimmediately.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by various elements, including the\nIndigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), indigenous\nfigures from various regions, representatives of indigenous women and\nyouth, and civil society activists.<\/p>\n
In the forum, Parta spotlighted the protracted discussion process of\nthe bill, which has dragged on for more than 16 years. According to him,\nthe state can no longer delay recognition of indigenous peoples\u2019\nrights.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not just a legislative agenda. It is the fulfilment of the\nRepublic\u2019s promise that has been written in the 1945 Constitution for\ndecades,\u201d said Parta in a statement received on Thursday (2\/4).<\/p>\n
Parta emphasised that the existence of indigenous peoples is a\ncrucial foundation in safeguarding Indonesia\u2019s national identity and\nintegrity. He reminded that before this nation was established,\nindigenous communities had already lived and shaped civilisations across\nthe Archipelago.<\/p>\n
According to him, indigenous peoples have been the ones genuinely\nsafeguarding forests, water sources, and practising tradition-based\nconservation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose who guard the forests and water sources, who nurture customs\nand traditions, are indigenous peoples. They are the guardians of our\nlife\u2019s balance,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he explained that indigenous peoples\u2019 living spaces hold\nnot only ecological value but also serve as the birthplace of\nculture\u2014from arts and knowledge systems to the ways Nusantara\u2019s people\ninteract with nature.<\/p>\n
Addressing concerns that passing the Indigenous Peoples Bill would\nimpede investment and industry, Parta dismissed it as an exaggerated\nworry.<\/p>\n
In his view, the absence of clear regulations so far has the\npotential to cause prolonged interest conflicts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe state must be present to regulate. Without regulation, clashes\nof interest will continue to occur. This bill actually provides legal\ncertainty for all parties,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
On that occasion, Parta also highlighted the impact of the slow\ndeliberation of the bill on the increasingly vulnerable and marginalised\ncondition of indigenous peoples.<\/p>\n
He noted that without strong legal protection, many indigenous\ncommunities face pressures on their living spaces, both from development\nexpansions and land conflicts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe longer this bill is not passed, the more fragile the position of\nindigenous peoples,\u201d said Parta.<\/p>\n
The presence of AMAN, indigenous figures, indigenous women,\nindigenous youth, and the civil society coalition at the meeting\ndemonstrates strong public pressure for the bill to be passed soon.<\/p>\n
Parta hopes this momentum can be utilised by the DPR RI to accelerate\nthe legislative process, while ensuring that the substance of the law\naddresses indigenous peoples\u2019 needs in a fair and sustainable\nmanner.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully this year we can witness the passage of the Indigenous\nPeoples Bill. This is our collective responsibility,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislator-passage-of-indigenous-peoples-bill-is-a-constitutional-debt-that-must-be-paid-1775145054", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }