Jayapura — Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri has called for the Draft Law on the Protection of Indigenous Peoples to be formulated in line with Papua’s special status and the provisions of the Papua Special Autonomy Law.
Fakhiri said any regulation concerning indigenous peoples must strengthen the implementation of Special Autonomy, particularly in protecting indigenous communities, customary land, and the basic rights of Indigenous Papuans.
“Whatever regulations are eventually issued must be able to strengthen the Special Autonomy Law because it protects us, protects our land, and fulfills the basic rights of Papuans,” Fakhiri said in Jayapura on Tuesday.
He explained that Special Autonomy was granted to Papua with specific objectives and considerations. Therefore, regulations related to indigenous peoples need to take into account the substance and spirit contained in the Special Autonomy Law.
Fakhiri said strengthening the legal framework for the protection of indigenous peoples would benefit various parties, including the regional government, indigenous communities as customary landowners, and people directly affected by development activities in Papua.
He also stressed that both collective indigenous rights and individual rights must not be overlooked in the implementation of development programs in Papua.
“Indigenous communities must be involved as actors in every activity carried out in the province, particularly here in Papua,” he said.
Fakhiri expressed hope that the Draft Law on the Protection of Indigenous Peoples would provide stronger protection for Papua’s indigenous communities, including customary land and the fulfillment of the basic rights of Indigenous Papuans.
Previously, the Papua Provincial Government held a working meeting with Committee I of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) on Monday (Sept. 28). The meeting, held at the Papua Governor’s Office, focused on an in-depth discussion and further enrichment of the Draft Law on the Protection of Indigenous Peoples.
During the meeting, the Papua Provincial Government submitted nine recommendations as input for consideration in the drafting of the legislation.
“We strongly hope that the input from the Papua Provincial Government will be taken into consideration in drafting the regulation, so that the provisions ultimately adopted continue to accommodate Papua’s special conditions and provide legal certainty in protecting indigenous communities,” Fakhiri said.
He further hoped that the recommendations submitted by the provincial government would serve as a reference during the legislative process and eventually contribute to the approval of the bill by the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta.
