Papuan Customary Council Rejects Minister Bahlil's Call to Settle Raja Ampat Nickel Mining Case Through Customary Law
The Papuan Customary Council (DAP) has spoken out regarding a unilateral statement by Investment Minister and BKPM Head Bahlil Lahadalia suggesting that the suspected criminal nickel mining case in the Raja Ampat world conservation area, South West Papua, should be resolved through customary law.
DAP Secretary General Yan Christian Warinussy firmly rejected political intervention in the handling of the matter. According to him, the legal process must be upheld rather than obscured under the pretext of baseless customary settlement.
"DAP cannot remain silent watching attempts to divert the course of justice. The alleged environmental crimes and legal violations in nickel mining activities on Gag Island and the Raja Ampat area are criminal matters, not customary disputes," he stated in an official statement.
Warinussy strongly dismissed Bahlil's suggestion that the case should be settled through customary means. "We affirm that Bahlil Lahadalia is not a son of Papuan customary law. Both structurally and substantively, he lacks the cultural capacity to direct the resolution of this case through Papuan customary mechanisms. What he has conveyed contradicts legal logic and threatens the existence of the state's positive law," he said sharply.
DAP reminded that under Law Number 8 of 1981 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), only the Indonesian National Police has the authority to investigate suspected criminal offences. The council therefore gave its full support to National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, particularly the Directorate of Specific Crimes (Tipidter) of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), to thoroughly expose the nickel mining exploitation deemed to have damaged the world conservation area.
DAP Secretary General Yan Christian Warinussy firmly rejected political intervention in the handling of the matter. According to him, the legal process must be upheld rather than obscured under the pretext of baseless customary settlement.
"DAP cannot remain silent watching attempts to divert the course of justice. The alleged environmental crimes and legal violations in nickel mining activities on Gag Island and the Raja Ampat area are criminal matters, not customary disputes," he stated in an official statement.
Warinussy strongly dismissed Bahlil's suggestion that the case should be settled through customary means. "We affirm that Bahlil Lahadalia is not a son of Papuan customary law. Both structurally and substantively, he lacks the cultural capacity to direct the resolution of this case through Papuan customary mechanisms. What he has conveyed contradicts legal logic and threatens the existence of the state's positive law," he said sharply.
DAP reminded that under Law Number 8 of 1981 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), only the Indonesian National Police has the authority to investigate suspected criminal offences. The council therefore gave its full support to National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, particularly the Directorate of Specific Crimes (Tipidter) of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), to thoroughly expose the nickel mining exploitation deemed to have damaged the world conservation area.