The release of a new series of reports in March by the Indonesian National Commission On Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the government’s human rights agency, marks the first official process to examine the human rights impacts land rights conflicts on Indigenous Peoples throughout Indonesia’s forest areas. The reports analyze 40 case studies of land conflicts across the country, and found that communities experience numerous abuses—displacement, intimidation, violence, and takeover of traditional indigenous forests.

Komnas HAM also found that conflicts result from an array of factors: lack of legal certainty in recognition of indigenous territories; lack of standard police guidelines in handling natural resource conflict; and a state development agenda that is strongly biased toward protecting corporations over community rights. The report, officially launched in the presence of state representatives, also includes several policy recommendations—including passage of the Law on Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Peoples, and the establishment of an independent Task Force on Indigenous Peoples. RRI Partners and Collaborators continue to advocate for effective implementation of the Komnas HAM recommendations and encourage prompt government action to recognize community rights.

Read more about the Komnas HAM investigation on the RRI blog.