AMAN: Mining Law May Cost Indigenous People's Future

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The general-secretary of the indigenous people’s alliance (AMAN), Rukka Sombolinggi, on Tuesday said the ratification of the coal and mineral Law (UU Minerba) presents a real danger for the safety and future of indigenous people and the environment.

“There are six main problems mentioned in the UU Minerba, firstly, the law was formally discussed silently and was far from public participation overseen by Law No.12/2011,” said Ruka in a written statement yesterday.

Rukka maintains that the UU Minerba will have large implications on the destruction of the indigenous people's living space. “The identity of indigenous people is formed from the formation and interaction between humans within their indigenous spaces.”

The changes in the law also control mining areas which include land, sea, beneath the Indonesian islands, the land beneath Indonesian seas. This norm is considered to be an overly-broad regulation that does not leave any room for Indigenous peoples' living space.

The UU Minerba could also possibly perpetuate corruption in indigenous areas as Rukka claims 77 percent out of 19.224.576 Ha Indonesian mining concessions are illegal. 

The AMAN general secretary believes the UU Minerba will entice more violence and criminalization attempts made against indigenous residents. In 2018, 262 indigenous people were criminalized for defending their customary territories.

Read also: UU Minerba; Controversial Aspects Embodied in Mining Law

FIKRI ARIGI