The Ministry of Human Rights has submitted the draft Indigenous\nPeoples\u2019 Law Bill to the House of Representatives\u2019 Legislative Body\n(Baleg) for prompt deliberation between the government and\nparliament.<\/p>\n
The document was personally handed over by Human Rights Minister\nNatalius Pigai at the parliamentary complex on Thursday (19 February).\nPigai said the draft bill was the product of direct consultations with\nindigenous communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe met with the Baleg leadership and its members, including the head\nof the working committee, to present the draft Indigenous Peoples\u2019\nBill,\u201d Pigai said on the occasion.<\/p>\n
Pigai explained that indigenous and traditional community groups must\nurgently receive recognition and be regulated through legislation. He\nsaid Indonesia should follow the example of the United States, which\nrecognises its population as divided into four distinct groups.<\/p>\n
The same applies to Indonesia. Citing historian Ben Anderson of\nCornell University, Pigai said Indonesia is divided into four community\ngroups: first, imagined communities \u2014 those who believe in Indonesia as\na single identity.<\/p>\n
Second, limited communities, referring to Indonesia\u2019s population as a\nbounded community. Third, sovereign communities, denoted by identity\ncards. Fourth, traditional communities.<\/p>\n
Until now, Pigai continued, the state has frequently seized authority\nfrom indigenous peoples. The state, he argued, has often disregarded and\nfailed to preserve their existence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is precisely why there needs to be a comprehensive explanation\nthat the law governs two matters: first, the law of indigenous legal\ncommunities, and second, traditional communities. That is what we\nconveyed,\u201d Pigai said.<\/p>\n
He proposed that the Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Law Bill should establish a\nNational Commission on Indigenous Peoples. The commission would\nrecognise their existence, rights, and standing before the state \u2014\nranging from the right to express opinions, freedom of association and\norganisation, rights over land, rights over water, and all other rights\ninherent to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that indigenous peoples become masters in their own land, so that\nindigenous peoples can make their own decisions,\u201d Pigai said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pigai-submits-draft-indigenous-peoples-law-bill-to-dpr-legislative-body-1771628410", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }