Indigenous peoples threatened, humanity in peril

Indonesian military socializing with West Papuans. 

In Indonesian-occupied West Papua, environmental destruction for mining and agro-industry is wiping out the livelihoods of local indigenous communities.

Despite Indonesia's constitutional guarantees and ratification of human rights conventions, indigenous peoples' rights are ignored or undermined in the new laws on agriculture and forestry, known as the "omnibus law".

Neglected minorities 

Indonesia is a multi-ethnic country. Although the majority are Javanese, who make up 40% of the country's population, there are many minority groups. About 70 out of 280 million people in Indonesia live under customary law and depend entirely on their land resources. However, with the Omnibus law, the existence of Indonesia's indigenous communities is increasingly under threat. The dictatorial approach of the Indonesian regime marginalizes those who live and think differently.

Hell built on goodwill

Regarding the population of Indonesia's easternmost region, West Papua, the central government is using various means to assimilate West Papuans into "good Indonesian citizens".  The assumption that West Papuans are backward and uncivilized provides legitimacy for both national and multinational companies to exploit West Papua's indigenous lands in return for the "progress" they provide. When, in fact, extractive industries and national infrastructure projects are the main cause of all the abuses that occur in West Papua. 

Jakarta used national security as a pretext to impose a state of emergency, which led to an escalation of violence. The number of West Papuan civilians tortured and killed has risen sharply due to military interventions in villages and the hunt for local separatist leaders. Members of Indonesian civil society have been working to end the violence, but they face intimidation and criminalization. Their actions are therefore very limited.

Saving lost humanity 

The existence of indigenous peoples is threatened, not only in West Papua, but also in other parts of the world. The development model based on economic and financial growth that has prevailed over the past few decades inevitably leads to the marginalization of those who are not "useful" to the system, and justifies those in power to dominate those without power. 

Yet, we need to realize that the world is on the brink of a major ecological catastrophe. In this respect, indigenous peoples, particularly West Papuans, are at the forefront of the fight against climate change. Adopting a new model for our society is essential to save humanity that has long lost its way.