Indigenous Communities in South Papua Urge Fulfilment of State Recognition Promises
Indigenous communities in South Papua are demanding the promised recognition of their rights and customary territories. For more than five years they have been kept waiting as investments push into their customary lands.
Data from Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat shows 13 marga are proposing recognition of their customary territories to local governments and have received no response. From 2017 to 2021, they assisted 13 marga of the Wambon people to map ulayat rights, customary land, document customary knowledge, manage natural resources, and preserve local wisdom and traditional life.
“This knowledge has been compiled in an Indigenous community research document and a map of the 13 marga’s customary lands has been prepared to be submitted to the provincial and district governments to expedite the issue of the Decree of Recognition of Indigenous Communities,” said Vincen Karowa, a staff member of Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat.
He said the application for recognition for the 13 marga has been submitted since February 2022. They are Marga Kemi, Ekoki Subur, Aute, Eninggugop, Wauk, Ekoki Aiwat, Kanduga, Tenggare, Kinggo, Gerem, Nimbitiwop, Gonesan, and Gonekasan.
Hengky Yaluwo, the regent at the time, promised the realisation of the formal recognition that was proposed. This refers to the Boven Digoel Regional Regulation Number 2/2023 on the Protection and Recognition of the Rights of Indigenous Legal Communities, which he issued.
He also reinforced this with Boven Digoel Regent Regulation Number 14 of 2024 on guidelines for recognition and designation of indigenous legal communities in Boven Digoel Regency.
Additionally, Vincen said, in September 2025 they submitted a request for mapping documents so that the indigenous community committee could promptly verify them. In November 2025, they again submitted the mapping documents of the customary territory following verified information and data on the existence of the indigenous community to the committee, so that the regent would promptly recognise and designate it.
“Regent Rony Omba has been in office for more than 100 days, but the realisation of formal decisions has yet to be achieved. Tolerating and neglecting the rights of indigenous communities and limited access to justice will have implications for political image and legal risk, as well as public trust.”
Vincen says the current Boven Digoel Regent is an indigenous person, and knows best the rights of the adat communities. He should be able to realise the formal designation of indigenous rights. Moreover, there is Boven Digoel Regional Regulation 2/2023 giving the government power to formalise legal designation.
Albert Tenggare, from the Wambon Kenemopte indigenous community, also voiced disappointment. He feels misled by the Minister of Environment and Forestry.
In late September 2023, representatives of Marga Tenggare, together with Yayasan Pusaka and eight other marga, submitted a request for customary forest to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. They were asked to complete missing requirements, but to date there has been no clarity.
“Until now, we are working to complete the requirements, but the Minister of Environment and Forestry wants to change forest status to non-forest land to be planted with palm oil. The government does not care about us,” he exclaimed.
Opposing the change of forest status
The efforts of the Wambon Kenemopte indigenous community form part of defending their forests, customary lands, and territories from investment incursions. The latest policy by the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR/BPN) has further angered indigenous communities in South Papua.
They feel they have never been involved in any government decisions that bring business and investment onto their land.
Vincen said, Minister of Environment and Forestry Decision 591/2025, which converts forests into non-forest areas for the purpose of national strategic projects (PSN) in South Papua Province, violates the rights of indigenous communities.