Sorong, Ekuatorial – Though already submitted customary land maps to the government, no legal status has yet to be declared over these areas, said an activist on Monday (16/3), in Sorong, Papua.

“There isn’t any process related to acknowledging customary land maps because government has yet to issue regulations on these maps,” said Kasmita Widodo, head of Ancestral Domain Registration Agency or BRWA, which is formed by Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), to map out customary lands in Indonesia, during the 5th AMAN National Meeting, held in Sorong, March 16-17.

Meanwhile, Widodo added that customary maps were very crucial to solve occurring land conflicts.

Until December 2014, the agency had managed to map out 4.8 million hectares of customary lands and have reported them to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Meanwhile, Arifin Saleh, deputy for indigenous people empowerment of AMAN, said these maps served as guidance for local people when have to deal with policies that did not protect their areas. “These maps are strong evidence for their existence,” said Saleh. “Indigenous people can prove their boundaries based on these maps when they have to negotiate with central and regional government.”

To deal with government’s shortcoming, BRWA will be issuing registration book which would support indigenous people in registering, declaring process, up til receiving acknowledgment from the government. Niken Proboretno

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