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Indigenous Peoples

Holding BP to account for Tangguh impacts

New report: Tangguh, BP and International Standards. An analysis of the commitments made by BP in relation to BP Tangguh in West Papua and their social and environmental responsibilities.

April, 2011

The British energy company BP is perhaps currently best known for last year’s fatal Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The company is also big news in Indonesia, where it is one of Indonesia’s biggest investors.

Tangguh, BP and International Standards

April 2011

BP Tangguh, Bintuni Bay and its Papuan context

Introducing our new report: 'Tangguh, BP and International Standards.

Securing recognition for indigenous land

Down to Earth 87, December 2010

An update on the Ancestral Domain Registration Agency - BRWA - launched earlier this year.

"We have taken back the land…but it isn't recognised as ours.  We want to be free to work our own land." (Nenek Mahbun, from Kelumpang Lima)

Journalist’s death overshadows launch of Papua food project

Press release - Tapol and Down to Earth

11 August 2010 - The death of a local journalist has increased concerns about a giant food estate, which according to reports is being officially launched today in Merauke, Southeastern Papua by Indonesia’s Minister and Vice Minister of Agriculture.

TAPOL and Down to Earth, the International Campaign for Ecological Justice in Indonesia are calling for a moratorium on the food project, known as MIFEE (Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate) until independent assessments of the political, economic, socio-cultural, environmental and gender impacts of the project have been undertaken.

Indonesia's sustainable development, climate change, and human rights treaty obligations

DTE Special Briefing March 2010

A selection of international instruments applicable to Indonesia which relate to sustainable development, climate change and human rights.

Indigenous rights in West Kalimantan revisited

Down to Earth No.84, March 2010

An interview with Erma Ranik


In 2003 we interviewed Erma Ranik for the DTE newsletter. At the time, Erma, a volunteer for the indigenous peoples' alliance in West Kalimantan (AMA Kalbar), was in London on a series of mini-internships facilitated by DTE, as part of a joint programme with the national indigenous peoples' alliance, AMAN.

Seven years on, Erma now sits in the DPD (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah - the Regional Representatives Council) and lives partly in Jakarta and partly in West Kalimantan. DTE got in touch to ask how things have changed.

Saving the planet is our joint responsibility

DTE 84, March 2010

By Pang Yuriun, Coordinator of Aceh's Indigenous Peoples' Network (JKMA).

Accepting REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) schemes as a necessary means to combat global warming bears a series of consequences for all of us. First, measures undertaken under the REDD mechanism need to be an integral part of an overall strategy to combat illegal logging and reduce the rate of forest destruction and degradation.