Jakarta — The Koalisi Kawal RUU Masyarakat Adat has called on the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the government to immediately deliberate and pass the long-pending Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU Masyarakat Adat) by July 2026, citing constitutional obligations and escalating threats to Indigenous communities.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 25, the coalition outlined four key demands: the immediate discussion and ratification of the bill; meaningful participation of Indigenous communities and civil society in deliberations by the Working Committee (PANJA) under the DPR’s Legislative Body (Baleg); an end to criminalisation and land grabbing of customary territories during the legislative process; and a halt to national priority projects and environmentally destructive corporate expansion that threaten Indigenous living spaces.
The coalition stated that the existence of Indigenous Peoples and their traditional rights are guaranteed under Article 18B (2) and Article 28I (3) of the 1945 Constitution. The Constitution mandates the state to recognise, respect, and protect Indigenous communities and provide legal certainty over their rights.
“Indigenous Peoples have long contributed to Indonesia through food sovereignty, customary law systems, environmental stewardship, and preservation of ancestral heritage, including in Tatar Sunda,” the coalition said.
However, despite being included in the National Legislative Program (Prolegnas) for nearly two decades, the bill has yet to be passed. The coalition argued that the lack of political commitment from both the DPR and the government amounts to a failure to uphold constitutional mandates.
The absence of a strong legal framework, they said, has left Indigenous communities vulnerable to ecological destruction caused by land conversion, criminalisation, and the seizure of customary lands in the name of national interest. Communal values and traditional rights — including cultural practices, spirituality, traditional knowledge, land rights, and the collective rights of Indigenous women — are increasingly at risk.
The coalition views the passage of the bill as a crucial step toward strengthening democracy and safeguarding constitutional rights. Indigenous communities in Tatar Sunda, it noted, are mobilising collective efforts to ensure the bill’s ratification as part of a broader struggle for recognition and protection.
The Koalisi Kawal RUU Masyarakat Adat comprises civil society organisations, Indigenous communities, academics, and individuals committed to monitoring the legislative process and accelerating the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Bill. (nsh)
Banner photo: The Koalisi Kawal RUU Masyarakat Adat (Indigenous Peoples Bill Monitoring Coalition) reaffirms the urgency of passing the Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU Masyarakat Adat) during a public discussion and consolidation event held at Padjadjaran University, Bandung. 25 February 2026 (Source: Koalisi Kawal RUU Masyarakat Adat)
