The issuance of the Regional Regulation on the Recognition of the Mentawai Indigenous Peoples provides legal protection for Indigenous rights at the district level. However, new laws and inaction by the central government have paved the way for timber companies to exploit their land, natural resources and culture.
Category: Sumatera
The determined fight against timber estates in Mentawai Islands
For years, the people of Mentawai have fought against the exploitation of their forests. The latest permit for timber estates issued by the government in Siberut Island was in 2017, without having consulted local communities
Hydroelectric project in Sumatra risks extinction of world’s rarest orangutan
As well as threatening the home of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan, environmentalists say the Batang Toru hydropower plant jeopardises the livelihoods of 130,000 people and increases the risk of landslides.
Sungai Buluh social forestry fails to take root
High hopes surrounded the Social Forestry program in the Batang Anai region, West Sumatera. Ecotourism activities that started in 2013 stopped operating soon after, while supporting facilities crumbled.
Tuan Tigabelas: The Sumatran Tiger’s Last Roar
Indonesian rapper aims to increase awareness on the critically endangered Sumatran Tigers. Calls for stakeholders and public to join hands to protect the last surviving tigers of the archipelago.
Indigenous women from Mentawai bank on video to voice environmental concerns
A training is providing young indigenous women in Mentawai Islands, off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a chance to learn journalistic video making that will help them voice their concerns on their local environment.
Indigenous youth to use video to air environmental concerns
Equipped with simple hardware, Mentawai indigenous youth learn how to conceptualize, write script, and take videos, share stories of their life and environment.
Bali Airport Closed, Flights Cancelled After Mount Raung Eruption
Lion Air cancelled 35 flights to and from Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, for safety reasons after Mount Raung spews volcanic ashes. “The authorities will close the airport from 1 to 6pm [local time],” said Lion Air Director Edward Sirait in a statement on Wednesday. The decision also affected all […]
Jakarta Post: Bali Island Powerless for Three Hours
Bali experienced a three-hour total blackout on Saturday evening following a technical issue on one of the extra-high voltage power lines (SUTT) in the Banyuwangi grid in East Java. The Bali office of state electricity company (PLN) reported that the SUTT unit, located in Situbondo, near Banyuwangi, was struck by lightning during a downpour on […]
Hydropower Construction Plan in Sentani Lake Papua
Construction of Hydroelectric Power Plant (HEPP) will be conducted in Lake Sentani, Jayapura regency, Papua next year. In addition to Lake Sentani, investors are also eyeing the mining excavation C in East Sentani and stone mining areas for renewable energy Unurumguai. [Read full text on Tabloid Jubi]