Jakarta – Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni has publicly apologized to the people of Papua over the burning of preserved Bird of Paradise (Cenderawasih) specimens and traditional headdresses conducted by the Papua Regional Office of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA).
Raja Juli emphasized that a comprehensive evaluation will be carried out to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
The statement was made during his participation in a working visit of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday (October 27, 2025), as reported by the Antara news agency.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Forestry, I sincerely apologize. This incident serves as an important lesson for us. Today, I will convene all BKSDA offices online to identify cultural taboos and sacred elements within local communities, so that future law enforcement efforts do not violate such values,” said Raja Juli.
He explained that, from a legal standpoint, the destruction of confiscated items from illegal wildlife trade cases was procedurally correct. However, viewed through social and cultural lenses, the act of burning the headdress had caused deep offense and emotional distress among Papuan communities.
Raja Juli added that he had assigned a senior official from the Ministry to visit Papua directly to hold dialogues with the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) and student representatives.
“We want to ensure that incidents like this never happen again — not only in Papua but also in other regions such as Bali. I will instruct all regional conservation heads to reexamine local wisdom and cultural sensitivities so that law enforcement can proceed with empathy,” he continued.
The Minister also underlined the importance of protecting the Bird of Paradise, an endemic species of Papua that is highly adaptive but difficult to breed in captivity.
“The Bird of Paradise has unique characteristics, is extremely sensitive to its environment, and many of its species have not yet been successfully bred. Therefore, the participation of Papuan communities is crucial in preserving this natural treasure,” he stated.
During the same occasion, Commission IV lawmaker Sulaeman L. Hamzah reminded the government that the Bird of Paradise headdress carries deep symbolic meaning for Papuan people. He noted that the burning of the headdress had triggered strong reactions across several regions in Papua.
“The Bird of Paradise headdress is often worn during traditional ceremonies and to welcome visiting officials. Its destruction has sparked protests in several districts and at Cenderawasih University. I urge the Minister to issue an official statement to help ease public tensions,” said Sulaeman.
