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Indigenous Peoples

Strikes and book launch keep Freeport-Rio Tinto in the news

Down to Earth No. 73, May 2007

The giant copper and gold mine operated in West Papua by US-based mining company Freeport McMoran with substantial investment from the British multinational Rio Tinto has been under scrutiny once again.


The Freeport-Rio Tinto mine has been the subject of protests at local and national level in recent months. At the local level, thousands of Papuan workers at the mine went on strike for four days. Facing hundreds of military and police, they successfully demonstrated against discriminatory employment practices.

The Indonesian Timber Legality Verification Standard: words are not enough

Down to Earth No. 73, May 2007


After a long and tortuous process, the working group given the task of agreeing the final version of Legality Standard for Indonesian Timber has completed its work. What its impact will be on the ground, where Indonesia's forests are disappearing fast, remains to be seen.


The final draft of the Indonesian Timber Legality Verification Standard was officially handed over to the Forestry Department at the beginning of February 2007.

AMAN Congress III: towards democracy, prosperity and autonomy

Down to Earth No.

Dayak villagers succeed in fining oil palm company

Down to Earth No. 72 March 2007

The following account was compiled by Erma Ranik of the West Kalimantan NGO, PENA.

A palm oil company, PT Airlangga Sawit Jaya, has admitted fault and has paid compensation amounting to Rp274,366,000 (USD30,485) to the Engkadik Pade indigenous community, in Landak, West Kalimantan.

The case began in May 2006, when PT Airlangga Sawit Jaya held a meeting in Engkadik village, Serimbu subdistrict, with several local government officials.

Oil palm and the United Nations

Down to Earth No. 71, November 2006

Indigenous peoples are trying to restrict the expansion of large-scale oil palm plantations in Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries This article was written by Mina S. Setra of the West Kalimantan Indigenous Peoples' Alliance (AMA Kalbar), following her visit to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples in New York earlier this year.


This year has been important for indigenous peoples all over the world.

Palm oil is not green

Down to Earth No. 71, November 2006


Plans have been shelved to use palm oil in a UK power station after campaigners highlighted the negative consequences for local communities, forests and wildlife.

SBY on Indonesia's Indigenous Peoples

Down to Earth No. 71, November 2006

Indonesia's president has spoken his views on indigenous peoples in Indonesia, but will his words be translated into much-needed action?

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has called on government officials to pay more attention to indigenous people's interests when preparing development programmes.