The Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) across Papua is currently advocating for the protection of customary land through the drafting of a Special Regional Regulation (Perdasus).
This step is being taken to prevent the buying and selling of customary land, which is considered detrimental to the Papuan people in the long term.
The Chair of the Association of MRPs across Papua, Agustinus Anggaibak, stated that all MRPs have agreed on a joint recommendation to prohibit the sale of customary land, including to fellow Papuans.
According to him, this regulation is crucial to ensure that indigenous communities’ land rights remain protected and are not lost due to short-term transactions.
The MRP also advocates for the implementation of a system of land use rights certificates rather than full ownership rights over customary land.
Through this scheme, indigenous communities remain the landowners, while investors can utilize the land for business activities through mutually beneficial partnerships.
Agustinus believes that selling land only provides temporary benefits but risks causing communities to lose their homes, sources of livelihood, and cultural identity on their own land.
Therefore, the Special Regional Regulation is considered crucial for safeguarding the livelihood of the Indigenous People of Papua (OAP) while protecting the cultural and customary values passed down through generations.
The Special Regional Regulation itself is a derivative regulation of the Papua Special Autonomy Law, aimed at strengthening the protection of OAP rights, including rights to customary land and the natural resources sustaining Papuan communities.