IKN Must Not Marginalize Indigenous People

The Balik Sepaku indigenous community has filed a lawsuit against the Constitutional Court, challenging the IKN Law. They argue that the law does not adequately protect the rights of indigenous peoples, despite the law stating it must "take into account and provide protection for the individual or communal rights of indigenous peoples."

The community claims that the IKN development has resulted in the loss of their customary territories, restricted access to cultural sites, and caused issues such as flooding and lack of clean water. The issue goes beyond mere wording, as the development projects have put the community at risk of losing their living spaces. The Constitution guarantees the protection of indigenous peoples' cultural identities and rights, and their meaningful participation should be involved from the earliest stages of policy formulation, following the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Despite some progress in recognizing customary forests, the disparity between the recognition of indigenous territories and the scale of certainty granted to various business activities remains significant. The government and the House of Representatives should address this issue and amend the flawed IKN Law to restore the customary rights of the Balik Sepaku people, ensuring that no development project forces indigenous peoples to lose their living spaces.