Community chiefs seek stronger bargaining stand

Community chiefs seek stronger bargaining stand

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of community representatives from
across the archipelago have descended on the heart of the capital
for a week-long gathering, slated to end Sunday.

Informal leaders from Aceh, Kampung Naga in West Java, Irian
Jaya -- referred to as West Papua by its representatives --
Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Riau and Tana Toraja, South
Sulawesi were among those who addressed talks on community
rights.

In separate groups in which some 250 participants shared
stories and views, they heard, among many other things, the
rejection by Kampung Naga residents of the promotion of their
unique area as a tourism object, and the expressed surprise of
the Irianese that they were not the only ones being discriminated
against in the country.

The gathering organized by 13 non-government organizations
comprised discussions starting Monday and a congress of
"customary communities of Nusantara" from Wednesday to Sunday.

Chairwoman of the organizers, Arimbi Heroepoetri of the
Indonesian Environment Forum (Walhi), said the event at the Hotel
Indonesia aimed at improving the bargaining position of
indigenous communities in the country. It was planned last year
and is the first of its kind, she said.

"We are calling this forum that of the communities of
Nusantara, not Indonesia," she said, referring to the 'earlier'
term for the archipelago. A statement from the organizers said
the existence of indigenous communities had been sidestepped by
the Indonesia nation-state through the laws on forestry, mining,
fisheries and transmigration, while the founding fathers had
actually recognized the diversity.

While communities make up the largest element in the
Indonesian nation state, organizers said "in national political
decisions the existence of these customary communities has ...
been systematically marginalized from the national political
agenda."

Participants had previously attended regional consultations,
the results of which were brought to the Jakarta forum. An
organizer said one purpose of the event would be to provide input
to the ongoing deliberations on the draft bill on regional
autonomy in the House of Representatives.

Participants on Monday split into groups focusing on land
rights, human rights, autonomy and women's issues, among other
things.

Thea Mamoyao from Timika in Irian Jaya, said in the women's
group that while male leaders were talking of autonomy or
independence from the government, "we women want first to be
independent within our own customary laws."

A separate group for women was seen as crucial in highlighting
for instance, inheritance rights for women, before they joined
other groups Tuesday.

Participants, several of them wearing traditional costumes,
were passionate in exchanging stories of their resistance to the
military, business corporations and government officials, and
were also amused that now several were suggesting independence.

On Monday Riau province was scheduled to announce its
independence.

In response to such suggestions sociologist Thamrin Amal
Tomagola told the forum on human rights that things may still be
worked out within the existing unitary framework.

Various abuses of power reported in the group, he said, were
not the fault of the state, but of the greedy among those in
power, mainly the former first family and all those who had
failed to stand up to them. (anr)