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Land poverty - no reforms in sight

Down to Earth No 60  February 2004


Indonesia's peasant farmers are being forced off their lands to make way for large-scale plantations, mining, forestry and industrial projects.

BRIK - a flawed approach

Down to Earth No 60  February 2004


Indonesia's forestry industry is becoming aware that consumers in Europe and North America want assurances that timber products are not imported at the cost of rainforest destruction.

Plantations

Down to Earth No 60  February 2004


Forestry minister Prakosa has announced measures to promote the development of forest plantations, despite national and international concerns about forest destruction.

The government's industrial timber estate (HTI) policy has failed in many respects. By 2002, the government had issued licences to 167 industrial timber estates (HTI) covering a total area of 7.76 million hectares, but only around 50 companies were operating anything like normally.

Second AMAN Congress demands recognition of indigenous rights in Indonesia

Down to Earth No 59  November 2003


The Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN) held its second congress in Lombok in September. The five-day Congress was attended by around 500 indigenous delegates from across Indonesia and West Papua plus several hundred members of local indigenous groups and supporting NGOs, academics and representatives of government agencies. The themes discussed included recognition of land and resource rights, respect for indigenous beliefs and practices and adat self-governance.

AMAN and the Second AMAN Congress

Down to Earth No 59  November 2003


An interview with Rukka Sombolinggi, from the indigenous people of Toraja in South Sulawesi, works for AMAN's secretariat in Jakarta as campaign co-ordinator. She helped organise the second AMAN Congress.

 

What were the main achievements of the second AMAN Congress?

There were five main aims of the Second AMAN Congress.

In Brief... DTE 59 - November 2003

Down to Earth No 59  November 2003


Further blow to draft NRM bill

A coalition of civil society groups protested over Nabiel Makarim's controversial remarks in September, which were dismissive about the existing draft for a new natural resources management (NRM) bill.

International concerns over illegal logging dominate Indonesian forest policy

Down to Earth No. 58, August 2003


Meanwhile, the need to bring about fundamental reform is not addressed.

The international environmental campaigning NGO Greenpeace believes that Indonesia has the world's highest rate of forest loss. Even Indonesian government ministers now admit publicly that deforestation in the country is out of control. "While we might still be having problems with environmental issues like flooding, forest fires and pollution, we nevertheless think we can find a way out.