Government Submits Draft Indigenous Communities Bill to Parliament
The Ministry of Human Rights submitted the draft Indigenous Communities Bill to the House of Representatives’ Legislation Body on Thursday, 19 February 2026. Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai said the draft was prepared in collaboration with indigenous community groups facilitated by the Ministry.
He said the draft has now been received by the Chair of the Working Committee on the Indigenous Communities Bill for subsequent deliberation by Parliament. “The target is to complete it this year,” he said at the Parliament Building in Jakarta on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
He explained that the principal substance of the bill is the recognition of the existence of indigenous communities throughout Indonesia. In addition, the law would regulate the protection of cultures, values, and customary practices observed by each indigenous group.
The bill, Pigai added, would also contain provisions on indigenous peoples’ rights, encompassing the right to express opinions, the right to associate, and rights over land and water. “So that indigenous peoples become masters in their own land, indigenous peoples can make their own decisions,” he said.
According to Pigai, the bill also proposes a mechanism for resolving disputes among indigenous communities. He said decision-making at the community level would be conducted through indigenous community committees.
Conflicts that remain unresolved at the community level would subsequently be handled by an independent National Indigenous Communities Commission. “The National Indigenous Communities Commission is an independent national body so that indigenous peoples’ issues can be resolved independently without state intervention,” Pigai said.
Furthermore, Pigai added that his meeting with the Chair of the Parliamentary Working Committee agreed that the Indigenous Communities Bill would be drafted using a precision system. Provisions contained in the bill would be harmonised with existing regulations, such as those governing agrarian affairs, forestry, agriculture, and other matters.
According to Pigai, this agreement represents a solution to concerns that the bill would disrupt or conflict with existing legislation. “So the Indigenous Communities Law should not force other laws to adjust. Because that would certainly lead to conflict,” he said.
Pigai noted that the Indigenous Communities Bill has been stalled for 16 years because many parties were concerned that the regulation would alter numerous authorities held by existing ministries and institutions.
“So if the law comes with limited adjustments, that is acceptable,” Pigai said. “But if it eliminates many authorities held by ministries and institutions, that is rather risky because many would protest,” he added.