Protecting Indigenous Collective Land Property in Indonesia under International Human Rights Norms
Abstract
This essay examines the applicability of international human rights instruments as the legal basis to protect indigenous rights to land, territories, and natural resources to non-ratification countries of the Convention on indigenous peoples’ rights, especially to the Indonesian context. In the last few decades, the United Nations has developed and recognized the rights of indigenous peoples, including rights to their ancestral lands, territories, and resources. These rights have been stipulated in several instruments, such as the ILO Conventions No.169 and UNDRIP. Nevertheless, most Asian and African countries have not ratified the Treaty, including Indonesia. Consequently, the rights failed to be adopted into national policies, which the ratification is a pre-condition before came into force through the national regulations. Indonesia also doubted the exclusive rights of land, territories, and resources traditionally owned by indigenous peoples. Legally, lands, territories, and resources are controlled by the States, as mentioned in Article 33 of the 1945 Constitutional law. Economically, Indonesia relies on land, territories, and natural resources to boost its national revenues. To achieve this aim, the expropriation of indigenous land and territories often occurs through land concession policy for private or state-owned companies. As a result, land tenure and social conflict were common phenomena from the New Order Regime until the current day. This conflict spreads across the country from the west part (Sumatra) to the east of Indonesia (Papua). Therefore, author argues that applying general international human rights instruments will be an alternative approach in protecting the fundamental rights related to their traditional land rights in the Indonesian context.
References
Agung, Bintoro, “Aktivis Kritik Bagi-bagi Sertifikat Tanah ala Jokowi”, (9 May 2018), online: .
Aji, Sekar Banjaran & Achmad Firas Khudi, “Indonesia’s National Strategic Project, Displacement, and the New Poverty” (2021) 5:2 JSEAHR 136, online:.
Anaya, S James, Indigenous peoples in international law (Oxford University Press, USA, 2004).
———, The Helsinki Agreement: A More Promising Basis for Peace in Aceh? (USA: East-West Center Washington, 2005).
Aspinall, Edward, Islam and Nation: Separatist Rebellion in Aceh, Indonesia (United Kingdom: Stanford University Press, 2009).
Bang, Peter, Papua blood: An account of West Papua (Denmark: BoD – Books on Demand, 2018).
Barelli, Mauro, “The Interplay Between Global and Regional Human Rights Systems in the Construction of the Indigenous Rights Regime” (2010) 32:4 The Johns Hopkins University Press 951–979.
Bertrand, Jacques, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in Indonesia (England: Cambridge University Press, 2004).
Borrows, John & Leonard I Rotman, “The Sui Generis Nature of Aboriginal Rights: Does it Make a Difference?” (1997) Canada.
Brackman, Arnold C, The Communist Collapse in Indonesia (USA: Norton, 1969).
Braithwaite, John et al, “Papua” in Anomie and Violence Non-truth and Reconciliation in Indonesian Peacebuilding (Australia: ANU Press, 2010) 49.
Claridge, Lucy et al, Moving towards a right to land: the Committee on economic, social and cultural rights’ treatment of land rights as human rights (London: Centre on Human Rights in Conflict, University of East London, 2015).
Cobo, Martinez, “Martínez Cobo StudyUnited Nations For Indigenous Peoples | United Nations For Indigenous Peoples”, (2014), online:
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, “General discussion on land and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”, (2019), online:.
Dea, Anugrah, “Freeport di Papua ialah Warisan Daripada Soeharto”, (2017), online: tirto.id.
DESA, UN, “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, (2007), online:.
Drexler, Elizabeth F, Aceh, Indonesia: Securing the Insecure State (USA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2009).
ETTY, TOM, “Indigenous land rights and the ILO”, (30 September 2007), online: Inside Indonesia.
Fellmeth, Aaron Xavier, Paradigms of International human rights law (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2016).
Garner, Bryan A, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage (England: Oxford University Press, 2001).
———, Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights under International Law: From Victims to Actors. Second Revised Edition (The Hague: BRILL, 2016).
Gilbert, Jérémie, “Land Rights as Human Rights” (2017) 18 Sur - International Journal on Human Rights, online:
Gilbert, Jérémie, Indigenous peoples’ land rights under international law: from victims to actors, usa ed (Ardsley, NY: Transnational Publishers, 2006).
Hidayat, Herman, Politik lingkungan: pengelolaan hutan masa Orde Baru dan reformasi (Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia, 2008).
Hohmann, Jessie et al, eds, “Part I the UNDRIP’s Relationship to Existing International Law, relationship to Human Rights, and Related International Instruments” in The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: a commentary Oxford commentaries on international law, first edition ed (Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2018).
Human Right Watch, International, Aceh Under Martial Law: Inside the Secret War, by International Human Right Watch, Vol.15, No.10 (London: Human Right Watch, 2003).
ILO, UN, “Convention C107 - Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107)”, (2017).
Indonesia, Forest Watch, Angka Deforestasi Sebagai “Alarm” Memburuknya Hutan Indonesia, by Forest Watch Indonesia (Jakarta, 2019).
Indonesian Constitutional Law, 1945 (1945).
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966.
Kadir, M Y Aiyub & Alexander Murray, “Resource Nationalism in the Law and Policies of Indonesia: A Contest of State, Foreign Investors, and Indigenous Peoples” (2019) 9:2 Asian Journal of International Law 298–333.
KBD, Dr Farid W Husain, Sp B, TO SEE THE UNSEEN - Scenes behind the Aceh Peace Treaty (Jakarta: PT. Rayyana Komunikasindo, 2007).
Kingsbury, Damien, “The Aceh Peace Process” in Arndt Graf, Susanne Schroter & Edwin Wieringa, eds, Aceh: History, Politics and Culture (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2010).
Kingsbury, Damien, Peace in Aceh: A Personal Account of the Helsinki Peace Process (USA: Equinox Publishing, 2006).
KOMNAS HAM, National Inquiry on the Right of Indigenous Peoples on Their Territories in the Forest Zones: Summary of finding and recommendation for improvement of the Law and Policy concerning respect, protection, compliance and remedy relating to the human rights of indigenous peoples over their territories within the forest zones, by KOMNAS HAM (Jakarta: The National Human Rights Commission, 2015).
KPA, Empat Tahun Implementasi Reformasi Agraria, by KPA (Jakarta: KPA, 2019).
Kuprecht, Karolina, Indigenous Peoples’ Cultural Property Claims Repatriation and Beyond (Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2014).
Leith, Denise, The Politics of Power: Freeport in Suharto’s Indonesia (Hawai: University of Hawaii Press, 2003).
Lindqvist, Sven, Terra nullius: a journey through no one’s land (New York: New Press, 2007).
Marinez Cobo, Jose R, Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations, Chapter XVII on Land, by Jose R Marinez Cobo, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1983/21/Add.4 (1983).
Marker, Jamsheed, East Timor: A Memoir of the Negotiations for Independence (North Carolina and London: McFarland, 2010).
Marr, Carolyn, “Forests and Mining Legislation in Indonesia” in Timothy Lindsey, ed, Indonesia, Law and Society (USA: Federation Press, 2008).
Martin, Ian, Self-determination in East Timor: The United Nations, the Ballot, and International Intervention (USA: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2001).
Missbach, Antje, Separatist Conflict in Indonesia: The long-distance politics of the Acehnese diaspora (London & New York: Routledge, 2017).
Nakata, Martin N, Indigenous Peoples, Racism and the United Nations (Australia: Common Ground, 2001).
Nasution, Anwar, Financial Institutions and Policies in Indonesia (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1983).
Neilson, Jeff, “Agrarian tranformations and land reform in Indonesia” in John F McCarthy, Kathryn May Robinson & ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, eds, Land & development in Indonesia: searching for the people’s sovereignty Indonesia update series (Singapore: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, 2016).
Organisation, International Labour, Understanding the Indigenous and Tribal People Convention, 1989 (No. 169): handbook for ILO Tripartite constituents. (Geneva: International Labour Office, 2013).
Peraturan Daerah Kabupaten Sorong No.10 Tahun 2007, (2007).
PERDA Kab. Kutai Barat No. 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Perlindungan terhadap Hutan Adat, Situs-Situs Bersejarah, Flora dan Fauna serta Pelestarian Lingkungan Hidup dalam Wilayah Kabupaten Kutai Barat, 6 (2014).
Presiden, Kantor Staf, Strategi National Pelaksanaan Reforma Agraria 2016-2019 (Kantor Staf Presiden, 2016).
Reid, Anthony, Verandah of Violence: The Background to the Aceh Problem (Singapore: NUS Press, 2006).
Robinson, Kathryn, “Mining, Land and Community Rights in Indonesia” in John F McCarthy, ed, Land and Development in Indonesia (Singapore: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, 2017).
Schulze, Kirsten E, The Free Aceh Movement (GAM): Anatomy of a Separatist Organization (USA: East-West Center Washington, 2004).
Smith, Donald B, “Deskaheh | The Canadian Encyclopedia”, (2006), online:.
Sulaiman, M Isa, Aceh merdeka: ideologi, kepemimpinan, dan gerakan (Banda Aceh: Pustaka Al-Kautsar, 2000).
Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2006 tentang Pemerintahan Aceh, 11/2006 (2006).
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, A/RES/61/295 (2007).
United Nations, General Assembly, “Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations”, (1948), online:
Vaughn, Bruce, Indonesia: Domestic Politics, Strategic Dynamics, and American Interests (USA: DIANE Publishing, 2010).
Watch, Human Rights, The Context of the Current Violations: The Long War in Aceh, by Human Rights Watch (Jakarta: Human Right Watch, 2004).
Wiessner, Siegfried, “The Cultural Rights of Indigenous Peoples:Achievements and Continuing Challenges” (2011) 22:1 The European Journal of International Law 121–140.
Aji, Sekar Banjaran & Achmad Firas Khudi, “Indonesia’s National Strategic Project, Displacement, and the New Poverty” (2021) 5:2 JSEAHR 136, online:
Anaya, S James, Indigenous peoples in international law (Oxford University Press, USA, 2004).
———, The Helsinki Agreement: A More Promising Basis for Peace in Aceh? (USA: East-West Center Washington, 2005).
Aspinall, Edward, Islam and Nation: Separatist Rebellion in Aceh, Indonesia (United Kingdom: Stanford University Press, 2009).
Bang, Peter, Papua blood: An account of West Papua (Denmark: BoD – Books on Demand, 2018).
Barelli, Mauro, “The Interplay Between Global and Regional Human Rights Systems in the Construction of the Indigenous Rights Regime” (2010) 32:4 The Johns Hopkins University Press 951–979.
Bertrand, Jacques, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in Indonesia (England: Cambridge University Press, 2004).
Borrows, John & Leonard I Rotman, “The Sui Generis Nature of Aboriginal Rights: Does it Make a Difference?” (1997) Canada.
Brackman, Arnold C, The Communist Collapse in Indonesia (USA: Norton, 1969).
Braithwaite, John et al, “Papua” in Anomie and Violence Non-truth and Reconciliation in Indonesian Peacebuilding (Australia: ANU Press, 2010) 49.
Claridge, Lucy et al, Moving towards a right to land: the Committee on economic, social and cultural rights’ treatment of land rights as human rights (London: Centre on Human Rights in Conflict, University of East London, 2015).
Cobo, Martinez, “Martínez Cobo StudyUnited Nations For Indigenous Peoples | United Nations For Indigenous Peoples”, (2014), online:
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, “General discussion on land and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”, (2019), online:
Dea, Anugrah, “Freeport di Papua ialah Warisan Daripada Soeharto”, (2017), online: tirto.id
DESA, UN, “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, (2007), online:
Drexler, Elizabeth F, Aceh, Indonesia: Securing the Insecure State (USA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2009).
ETTY, TOM, “Indigenous land rights and the ILO”, (30 September 2007), online: Inside Indonesia
Fellmeth, Aaron Xavier, Paradigms of International human rights law (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2016).
Garner, Bryan A, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage (England: Oxford University Press, 2001).
———, Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights under International Law: From Victims to Actors. Second Revised Edition (The Hague: BRILL, 2016).
Gilbert, Jérémie, “Land Rights as Human Rights” (2017) 18 Sur - International Journal on Human Rights, online:
Gilbert, Jérémie, Indigenous peoples’ land rights under international law: from victims to actors, usa ed (Ardsley, NY: Transnational Publishers, 2006).
Hidayat, Herman, Politik lingkungan: pengelolaan hutan masa Orde Baru dan reformasi (Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia, 2008).
Hohmann, Jessie et al, eds, “Part I the UNDRIP’s Relationship to Existing International Law, relationship to Human Rights, and Related International Instruments” in The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: a commentary Oxford commentaries on international law, first edition ed (Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2018).
Human Right Watch, International, Aceh Under Martial Law: Inside the Secret War, by International Human Right Watch, Vol.15, No.10 (London: Human Right Watch, 2003).
ILO, UN, “Convention C107 - Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107)”, (2017).
Indonesia, Forest Watch, Angka Deforestasi Sebagai “Alarm” Memburuknya Hutan Indonesia, by Forest Watch Indonesia (Jakarta, 2019).
Indonesian Constitutional Law, 1945 (1945).
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966.
Kadir, M Y Aiyub & Alexander Murray, “Resource Nationalism in the Law and Policies of Indonesia: A Contest of State, Foreign Investors, and Indigenous Peoples” (2019) 9:2 Asian Journal of International Law 298–333.
KBD, Dr Farid W Husain, Sp B, TO SEE THE UNSEEN - Scenes behind the Aceh Peace Treaty (Jakarta: PT. Rayyana Komunikasindo, 2007).
Kingsbury, Damien, “The Aceh Peace Process” in Arndt Graf, Susanne Schroter & Edwin Wieringa, eds, Aceh: History, Politics and Culture (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2010).
Kingsbury, Damien, Peace in Aceh: A Personal Account of the Helsinki Peace Process (USA: Equinox Publishing, 2006).
KOMNAS HAM, National Inquiry on the Right of Indigenous Peoples on Their Territories in the Forest Zones: Summary of finding and recommendation for improvement of the Law and Policy concerning respect, protection, compliance and remedy relating to the human rights of indigenous peoples over their territories within the forest zones, by KOMNAS HAM (Jakarta: The National Human Rights Commission, 2015).
KPA, Empat Tahun Implementasi Reformasi Agraria, by KPA (Jakarta: KPA, 2019).
Kuprecht, Karolina, Indigenous Peoples’ Cultural Property Claims Repatriation and Beyond (Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2014).
Leith, Denise, The Politics of Power: Freeport in Suharto’s Indonesia (Hawai: University of Hawaii Press, 2003).
Lindqvist, Sven, Terra nullius: a journey through no one’s land (New York: New Press, 2007).
Marinez Cobo, Jose R, Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations, Chapter XVII on Land, by Jose R Marinez Cobo, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1983/21/Add.4 (1983).
Marker, Jamsheed, East Timor: A Memoir of the Negotiations for Independence (North Carolina and London: McFarland, 2010).
Marr, Carolyn, “Forests and Mining Legislation in Indonesia” in Timothy Lindsey, ed, Indonesia, Law and Society (USA: Federation Press, 2008).
Martin, Ian, Self-determination in East Timor: The United Nations, the Ballot, and International Intervention (USA: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2001).
Missbach, Antje, Separatist Conflict in Indonesia: The long-distance politics of the Acehnese diaspora (London & New York: Routledge, 2017).
Nakata, Martin N, Indigenous Peoples, Racism and the United Nations (Australia: Common Ground, 2001).
Nasution, Anwar, Financial Institutions and Policies in Indonesia (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1983).
Neilson, Jeff, “Agrarian tranformations and land reform in Indonesia” in John F McCarthy, Kathryn May Robinson & ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, eds, Land & development in Indonesia: searching for the people’s sovereignty Indonesia update series (Singapore: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, 2016).
Organisation, International Labour, Understanding the Indigenous and Tribal People Convention, 1989 (No. 169): handbook for ILO Tripartite constituents. (Geneva: International Labour Office, 2013).
Peraturan Daerah Kabupaten Sorong No.10 Tahun 2007, (2007).
PERDA Kab. Kutai Barat No. 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Perlindungan terhadap Hutan Adat, Situs-Situs Bersejarah, Flora dan Fauna serta Pelestarian Lingkungan Hidup dalam Wilayah Kabupaten Kutai Barat, 6 (2014).
Presiden, Kantor Staf, Strategi National Pelaksanaan Reforma Agraria 2016-2019 (Kantor Staf Presiden, 2016).
Reid, Anthony, Verandah of Violence: The Background to the Aceh Problem (Singapore: NUS Press, 2006).
Robinson, Kathryn, “Mining, Land and Community Rights in Indonesia” in John F McCarthy, ed, Land and Development in Indonesia (Singapore: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, 2017).
Schulze, Kirsten E, The Free Aceh Movement (GAM): Anatomy of a Separatist Organization (USA: East-West Center Washington, 2004).
Smith, Donald B, “Deskaheh | The Canadian Encyclopedia”, (2006), online:
Sulaiman, M Isa, Aceh merdeka: ideologi, kepemimpinan, dan gerakan (Banda Aceh: Pustaka Al-Kautsar, 2000).
Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2006 tentang Pemerintahan Aceh, 11/2006 (2006).
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, A/RES/61/295 (2007).
United Nations, General Assembly, “Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations”, (1948), online:
Vaughn, Bruce, Indonesia: Domestic Politics, Strategic Dynamics, and American Interests (USA: DIANE Publishing, 2010).
Watch, Human Rights, The Context of the Current Violations: The Long War in Aceh, by Human Rights Watch (Jakarta: Human Right Watch, 2004).
Wiessner, Siegfried, “The Cultural Rights of Indigenous Peoples:Achievements and Continuing Challenges” (2011) 22:1 The European Journal of International Law 121–140.
Published
2022-06-30
How to Cite
FAHMI, Chairul; SIDDIQ ARMIA, Muhammad.
Protecting Indigenous Collective Land Property in Indonesia under International Human Rights Norms.
Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights, [S.l.], v. 6, n. 1, p. 1-25, june 2022.
ISSN 2599-2147.
Available at: <https://jurnal.unej.ac.id/index.php/JSEAHR/article/view/30242>. Date accessed: 28 dec. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.19184/jseahr.v6i1.30242.
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
