The government must refer to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which upholds the indigenous people of Rempang’s right to protect their territory, as individuals and collective communities. As international law, UNDRIP provides a country’s unilateral statement of its understanding or interpretation of an international agreement, which all states, including Indonesia, shall respect.
Rempang Eco City development might indeed foster beneficial and equal development; however, the development plans seriously impact the social matrix, local economy and environment. “If relocation is necessary, the government should seek the approval of the Rempang Malay indigenous community instead of forcibly evicting us,” Nukila stated.
The government and business leaders must abide by the business principles outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights, demanding to recognize international human rights norms and allowing no forced extortions or evictions in the Rempang case. The Criminal Code regulates extortion, including intimidation, causing people to feel uncomfortable and unsafe, and offering self-belonging items to other parties.
According to the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights’ General Comment No. 7 of 1997, forced eviction means the permanent or temporary removal from their respective homes and/or land they live on, which is against the will of their respective families and/or communities, without the provision of or access to appropriate forms of legal or other protection.
Forced evictions, according to the international community, are a violation of human rights, particularly the rights of the Rempang Malay indigenous people. Nukila regrets the fact that people are being evicted in the name of development. Who has the right to assure that Rempang Eco City will improve the lives of the residents of Rempang?
The following are several recommendations for the central government, local governments, or private parties involved in creating Rempang Eco City.
First, respect the indigenous Rempang people’s rights by protecting children and women to prevent long-term trauma and harm to future generations.
Second, central and regional governments should apologize to the Rempang Malay community, as well as the Malay community, for causing physical and mental harm by thoughtlessly imposing this project scheme.
Read: 22 Children Lost For Six Hours In Pangandaran Nature Reserve
Third, the central government and regional governments must utilize compelling approaches, such as stressing extensive and interactive discourse and honoring the rights of the indigenous Rempang Malay community.
Fourth, as a sign of good intention between the central and regional governments in addressing this issue, they must comply with free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), which allows no detentions or arrests for demonstrators, and they should all be freed.
“Eventually, if the Rempang Malay indigenous group continues to resist, the government must listen rather than imposing its will. Rempang people have lived happily for a long time, even without the investment and projects offered,” Nukila concluded. (des)