Indigenous peoples take united stand
Indigenous peoples take united stand
JAKARTA (JP): The nation's indigenous peoples have united in
demanding an outright end to abuses against them and respect of
their sovereignty by the state.
In their declaration issued late on Sunday to conclude a five-
day congress, they stated "there is no place for a uniform policy
of the state" because of the nation's diversity. The congress was
a first for the country's indigenous groups.
About 250 representatives also announced the establishment of
the Nusantara Alliance of Indigenous Peoples.
"If the state does not recognize us, we also do not recognize
the state," an introduction to the declaration read.
Years of pain shared by indigenous peoples "has its source in
the nonrecognition of (our) sovereignty by the state of the
Republic of Indonesia ..."
The declaration was read by Mathea Mamoyao, a representative
of West Papua, the name demanded by those seeking an independent
Irian Jaya.
Chairwoman of the organizing committee Sandra Moniaga said
solidarity was fostered among participants during the congress
and a two-day workshop preceding it at Hotel Indonesia.
The alliance is led by a 54-member governing board. Its
executive secretary has yet to be announced. Representatives plan
to meet legislators on Monday to report on the results.
In lively congress activities, participants exchanged
experiences of resisting powerful investors, the government and
the military, all perceived as threatening their livelihood.
Congress participants included farmers, fishery workers and
miners, many who are also community elders, chiefs, traditional
kings and advisors.
The statement of basic views, also read by Mathea, said
customary institutions "have been torn apart by the imposing of
regional and village administrative structures applied
uniformly", based on the 1974 law on regional administration and
the 1979 law on village administration.
"The imposed concept of the village has led to extraordinary
conflicts," she said, adding that state institutions did not have
representatives of indigenous peoples.
State control of resources "has become a powerful tool to
eradicate the sovereignty of indigenous peoples" leading to
various rights abuses. The statement added that those resisting
government or private projects have been subjected to torture and
killings.
Economically, the government, without consulting locals, "has
given new rights to businesses and other institutions foreign to
indigenous peoples".
Demands included an end to terms such as "isolated tribes" and
"state-owned land"; a return of political sovereignty of the
indigenous peoples; the revoking of all laws denying their
sovereignty; an end to military intervention leading to violence,
particularly toward women, and correction of all abuses of
violated rights.
Programs using land and resources should entail consultation
with indigenous peoples, including in areas such as
transmigration, mining and forestry exploitation.
Laws which should be revoked included those on land, forestry,
mining and fisheries.
Various projects should guarantee an end to rights
violations, including in the enforcement of the family planning
program, the statement said. (anr)