Press Release – Faculty of Social and Political Science, University of Indonesia

Depok, 4th June 2025 – Faculty of Social and Political Science the University of Indonesia (FISIP UI) in collaboration with Center International Relations Studies (CIReS) and Indonesian Institute of Advanced International Studies (INADIS) conducts an “Critical Mineral Exploitation, Fulfilment of the Rights of Indigenous People in Sulawesi, in relations to Indonesian Foreign Policy” on Wednesday (04/06) at Auditorium Juwono Sudarsono, FISIP UI.

Indonesia’s increasing geopolitical roles in global supply – particularly with regards to critical mineral exports such as nickel and cobalt - Indonesia has become important player on new and renewable energy issue globally.

Natural resources and Indigenous People

A number of countries have significant interests in Indonesia’s critical minerals. One such country – China – has invested around US$ 30 billion in nickel supply in Indonesia – such as in Sulawesi, which has one of the largest nickel deposit that has been extracted and processed.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Atnike Nova Sigiro (Chairperson of Indonesian National Human Rights) says that the impacts on indigenous people becomes a complex issue. On one hand, investment opens economic and infrastructural opportunities, yet on the other hand, it often disregards the rights of indigenous communities and causes environmental degradation, massive deforestation resulting from massive expansion in nickel industry that threatens ecosystem and natural resources that are integral part of indigenous life.
Atnike explains the impacts on local communities, particularly indigenous groups in Sulawesi. Lack of indigenous people participation in decision making becomes a major issue. “The State has the obligation to protect indigenous people from third parties such as companies or other non-state actors that threaten the rights of indigenous people.” Atnike also suggests that this can be done by closely monitoring the business sector and deal with law infringement by third parties against indigenous people and the State has the obligation to fulfil indigenous people’s rights by giving recognition and protection to indigenous claim and other special rights associated with their presence and identity as indigenous groups.

“The State responsibility is already stipulated in the National Constitution of UUD 1945 after amendment of Law No. 39 Year 1999 on Human Rights, United Nations Declaration on Indigenous People’s Rights and other national and international laws,” says Atnike.

Indigenous People in Critical Mineral Exploitation

There are many mining permits being given without sufficient consultation, resulting in the total neglect of the rights of indigenous people.

Erasmus Cahyadi, S.H. (Deputy Secretary General for Politics and Law, National Indigenous People Alliance or AMAN) says that private companies (Indonesian and foreign) as well as para-statal companies enjoy legal facility. “The government and the security apparatus have the opposite view to that of the indigenous communities, where they lend their support to companies. This is evident in criminalisation and violence against indigenous people,” he says.

“We notes 200 cases of violence against indigenous people between January and May. Then there are new groups in community that push indigenous communities to sell their land, and from such example we could see how development destroys social order and environment, and seizes indigenous people’s rights, particularly their living space,” says Erasmus.

Erasmus further explains, “the people in power often have different agenda than the people, for example indigenous people are often invited to meetings and they are given opportunities to speak, yet their views are never incorporated into policy text prepared by the Parliament or other government agencies.”
There is also discrimination in law enforcement. When people report to the security agencies about environmental pollution or violence, their report is often ignored. “When economic perspective or development dictates policy, it often ignores the interests of local indigenous people. There is hardly any policy attention or perspective about protecting indigenous people, he says.

Understanding People’s Response to Development

Rini Astuti, PhD. (The research team leader “Socio-Ecological Impacts of Nickel Mining in the Eastern Part of Indonesia”), says that “justice has three aspects – distributive and procedural justice, and justice that recognizes the rights of indigenous people. Understanding people’s resonse to mining development in their area should not be based solely on the resistance-acceptance dichotomy because there are many layers involved,”

“When we see injustices, when communities are pressed from below and from above, what happens then is that they respond through what they perceive as extra-activism by the poor. The latter means that people initially reject nickel companies, but then shift their position by demanding compensation for their land. People’s response is shaped by government absence and distrust towards the court, and people take decision that give them an advantage,” says Rini.

Rini argues that justice must be centred in community - daily struggle and negotiation for justice. People’s rights and livelihood are protected through daily actions and negotiation.

Critical Mineral through the Lens of Foreign Policy

Makmur Keliat, Ph.D (Lecturer, International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Science, University of Indonesia) explains the diplomatic aspect. He says that Indonesia must actively be involved in international conventions, to make sure that local community interests are fulfilled, including in the context of environmental sustainability. Makmur adds that “we need to reflect on the stipulation of Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resource as articulated in the General Assembly Resolution 1803 (XVII) of 14 December 1952 and point three article 33 of the Indonesian Constitution 1945 that the State manages all natural resources for the welfare of the people.”
In addition, he says that we must look at the State role(s) in critical mineral management – particularly with regards to the consequences of such commodities on security, economy, politics, social affairs and environment.

Energy transition has consequences in terms of political, economic and social transformation. “Placing priority on critical mineral management not only with regards to extraction and production, but also recycling. It is important to keep transparency, including with regards to actors and information that can be publicly accessed,” says Makmur.

To meet the challenge, a more inclusive approach is necessary in foreign policy and in economy, including transparency in bilateral agreement and protection of indigenous people’s rights in mining regulation.

The seminar explores the issue of critical mineral exploitation, fulfilment of indigenous people’s rights in Sulawesi and Indonesia’s foreign policy, and ensures that local voices on critical minerals are incorporated into international discourse with international actors. Other speakers include Richard Fernandez Labiro (Director, Yayasan Tanah Merdeka – Central Sulawesi), Dr. Siti Maimunah (Direktor- Mama Aleta Fund (MAF), – end –