Indigenous peoples bill in limbo as House rushes agrarian reform
The long-awaited indigenous peoples bill might once again be left in limbo as the House of Representatives races to prioritize another bill on agrarian reform, raising concern among activists pushing for legislation on the recognition of the underserved and dispossessed.
The indigenous peoples bill faces uncertainty once again as the House of Representatives prioritizes a different piece of legislation: agrarian reform. This long-awaited legislation has been on the back burner for 15 years, and its progress has been slow, especially after the House unexpectedly added three new bills to its priority list in August, including agrarian reform.
The agrarian reform bill, initiated by the House Legislative Body, has made rapid progress, whereas the indigenous peoples bill has been left in limbo. The focus on agrarian reform has raised concerns among civil society groups, including the Coalition for the Indigenous Peoples Bill, who fear that lawmakers may not follow through on their commitment to prioritize indigenous recognition.
Coalition coordinator Veni Siregar expressed worry that provisions for indigenous peoples' customary territories in the agrarian reform bill might be sufficient, rather than providing a comprehensive law to recognize indigenous peoples as legal subjects and protect them.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
