Stop using violence to settle land, forest disputes: Survey<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A group of researchers has warned forest concessionaires
\nagainst using the military or violence to resolve numerous forest
\ndisputes with millions of indigenous people across the country.<\/p>\n
If the current trend continues, prolonged disputes will
\nprevail, stated the survey, which was conducted by Marcus
\nColchester, Martua Sirait and Boedhi Wijardjo, in cooperation
\nwith the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the
\nIndonesian Indigenous People Alliance (AMAN) and the Rain Forest
\nFoundation.<\/p>\n
\"They (forestry companies) need to hold a dialog, instead of
\nusing the military or violence to resolve the conflicts,\" the
\nresearchers said.<\/p>\n
They said disputes between forestry companies and indigenous
\npeople were sparked by the unilateral granting of forest
\nconcessions by the government without considering the 65 million
\npeople living near the forests.<\/p>\n
The researchers said state forestry company Perhutani, which
\nis authorized by the government to manage state forests in Java,
\nwas an example of parties who ignore the rights of indigenous
\npeople during their operations.<\/p>\n
\"Perhutani obtains its forest concessions from the government,
\nbut the company is rejected by the people because state forests
\ntake over villagers' land. Their rights are not recognized, and
\nPerhutani never shares the profits with them,\" they said.<\/p>\n
Citing an example, they said that in Cepu, Central Java,
\nPerhutani had arbitrarily cut down old-growth trees belonging to
\nresidents of Jajang village without the villagers' consent.<\/p>\n
The residents claimed they had cultivated the area before the
\narrival of Dutch colonists.<\/p>\n
The report said that Perhutani resorted to violence by
\nshooting or torturing locals, who were accused of stealing the
\ncompany's logs.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, research carried out on two forest concession
\nholders -- PT Diamond Raya Timber in Riau and PT Intracawood
\nManufacturing in East Kalimantan -- found that the firms did not
\nrecognize local residents' rights over the areas, the researchers
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The research said that in PT Intracawood's case, local
\nvillagers claimed to own the entire area of the company's forest
\nconcession, but there were no indications that the company would
\nrespect the people's right to manage the forests.<\/p>\n
People living in Berusu, Tidung and Punan are among the
\nindigenous communities in the eight areas who are claiming
\nownership over the areas exploited by PT Intracawood, which has
\nresulted in a prolonged dispute with the company, the research
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"PT Intracawood allegedly pressed local community leaders to
\ndrop their claim over the land within the forest concession,\" it
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The researchers called on the government to reform how forests
\nare managed so that it would lead to the recognition of local
\npeople's rights.<\/p>\n
They demanded that the government allocate concessions through
\npublic hearings with people living near the forests. They also
\nurged the government to exclude areas belonging to indigenous
\npeople.<\/p>\n
\"Forest concessions should also be granted to companies with
\nthe consent of well-informed locals,\" the researchers said.<\/p>\n
International Labor Organization (ILO) convention No. 169\/1989
\non indigenous people in independent states should be ratified to
\nhelp protect their rights, the research said.<\/p>\n
Forest concessionaires should also be granted certificates to
\nensure that forests are managed with attention also given to
\nlocal residents, the research said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stop-using-violence-to-settle-land-forest-disputes-survey-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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