Dayak Residents Reject Meratus Becoming a National Park, Urge DPR to Provide Solution

Representatives of the Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), particularly the Dayak Meratus community, have requested the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) to intervene and resolve various agrarian conflicts in South Kalimantan (Kalsel). This request was conveyed by the Chairman of the South Kalimantan PDI Perjuangan Regional Leadership Council, HM Syaripuddin, while accompanying the Dayak Meratus Community and residents of Panci Village at a Public Hearing (RDPU) held by the DPR RI Public Aspirations Agency (BAM) on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. According to Syaripuddin, the conflicts include the management of Mount Meratus, which is being designated as a national park, as well as the case of Pulau Panci Village lands with certified ownership titles (SHM) since 2007–2008 that are now included in protected forest areas. “Before coming to the DPR, we have undertaken various efforts at the local level, from receiving aspirations to facilitating mediation with the Regional Government, the National Land Agency (BPN), and the Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Agency (BPKH). However, to date, there has been no resolution due to overlapping authorities and policy inconsistencies among central-level institutions,” he stated in his remarks on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. He explained that one of the main issues raised was the indigenous community’s rejection of the plan to designate the Meratus Mountains as a national park. “The Dayak Meratus Indigenous Community considers that area as their ancestral territory managed generationally, so this policy has the potential to eliminate management rights, restrict access to natural resources, and threaten cultural continuity,” he revealed. Meanwhile, for the other agrarian conflict, Bang Dhien highlighted the issue faced by the Pulau Panci Village community regarding lands with certified ownership titles (SHM) since 2007–2008, which are now within protected forest zones. “This situation creates legal uncertainty, overlapping authorities, and economic impacts for the community,” he concluded. In response, the Chairman of the DPR RI Public Aspirations Agency (BAM), Adian Napitupulu, stated that BAM DPR RI would promptly follow up on these aspirations by coordinating with relevant commissions and ministries to push for a fair resolution. “We are very grateful for the presence of our friends from the Dayak Meratus Indigenous Community and the Pulau Panci Village community in Kotabaru Regency, South Kalimantan. Immediately after this, we will convey it directly to the commissions and the ministries authorised to handle this matter so that it can be resolved fairly,” Adian emphasised.