Europe/UK

 

 

Press Release by AMAN and DTE, Jakarta and London, 17th March, 2014

Civil society organisations in Indonesia and the UK have joined forces to urge their government leaders to protect the rights of indigenous peoples in Indonesia. It is critical that unfinished business on recognising and protecting the rights of an estimated 60-120 million Indonesians are implemented as the country’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono enters the last few months of his second and final term.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Merdeka Palace
Jakarta

The Rt Hon David Cameron, MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA

March 17th, 2014

Re:  urgent action on indigenous peoples rights in Indonesia – your role as co-chairs of the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post 2015 Development Agenda

 

Sirs,

Open letter to EU decision-makers, signed by 112 organisations, including Down to Earth.

DTE 93-94, December 2012

Last year DTE reported on the global land-grab phenomenon and its connection to the 2008 financial crisis, the global food price spike of 2007/2008 as well as the ongoing climate change & energy crisis.[1] Since then, more analysis of data on land deals has become available which fills in some of the detail in the picture. In this update, we take another look at the global rush for land with a focus on investors and their obligations to the people affected by land-grabbing.

Messages for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono whose UK visit was marked by a demonstration on October 31st. The demonstration was organised by groups including DTE, TAPOL, Survival International, the UK-based NGO Forum for Indonesia andTimor-Leste and their supporters.

 
Letter to UK press, 31st October 2012
 
Sir,
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visits the UK this week. Indonesia has made strides towards democracy since the 1998 fall of Suharto and UK companies are increasing their investments in its burgeoning market. However human rights violations continue to abound in Papua where the right to freedom of expression is not upheld. Over 60 violations including stabbings and fatal shootings have taken place this year alone.

DTE briefing in advance of the visit of President SBY to UK, October-November 2012

For the full briefing pack with contributions from DTE and other civil society organisations, click here.

Policies aimed at promoting economic growth in Indonesia are leading to more and more of the country’s land and resources being taken over by large businesses. The process is further marginalizing Indonesia’s indigenous peoples and local communities.