Acknowledgment of Local Rights, Improved Governance and

Environmental Protection;

a Story from the Asmat region of Irian Jaya, Indonesia

Members of the Kenok and Jorat "sub-tribes" of the indigenous Asmat tribe in the Sawa-Erma sub-district of Irian Jaya’s southeast coast were alarmed when bulldozers broke ground for the construction of fish processing factory on their customary land in 1997. Not only were they concerned that the factory site was on land that tribal members used for their subsistence, but perhaps more importantly, neither the sub-district head (Pak Camat) or company representatives had consulted with them about the project.

In an effort to get to the bottom of what had happened and to voice their opposition to the process, local leaders attempted to meet with the sub-district head. After several attempts, they secured a meeting and were told that the company had received permission from other authorities and that they should speak with the company. When they met with the company they were told that the sub-district head had given approval for the project.

As part of its work to involve indigenous communities in the management of Lorentz National Park, WWF had been working with the Kenok and Jorat as well as other Asmat sub-tribes and the catholic diocese, to conduct community mapping of indigenous resources, use of resources and boundaries. In 1998, KEMALA support enabled WWF to continue community mapping work with the Asmat and to provide technical assistance to the Asmat in forming a community organization, Lembaga Musyawarah Adat Asmat (LMAA). Among the outcomes of this work have been increased awareness of state laws and impacts of different types of resource use, improved capacity of the Asmat to facilitate internal communication and make collective decisions, and improved links with outside organizations and access to information and decision makers.

Bolstered by their improved internal organization, understanding of state laws and potential impacts, as well as by their new links with outside organizations, and after being rebuffed by sub-district authorities and company officials, Kenok and Jorat leaders drafted a letter to Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) requesting assistance. In early 1998 LBH sent out a team to investigate Asmat complaints. They found that the company had moved forward with the project without fulfilling a number of requirements under state law and alleged that the sub-district and district head had given the go ahead for the project contrary to several regulations. They found that neither company or government officials had made efforts to find out the status of the land for the factory site or who it belonged to. They also found that there had been no consideration of the potential environmental impacts of the factory. These and other findings were included in a report by LBH detailing violations of state laws and regulations. LBH informed Asmat leaders and LMAA that they could use their findings to petition the Governor and Provincial Assembly and publicize their story with the media.

Community meetings were organized by LMAA in cooperation with Kenok and Jorat leaders. Despite active opposition from the Sub-district head (Camat) and intimidation from the military and police, community members confirmed their opposition to the project and gave their support to the idea of a petition the Governor and Provincial Assembly. The letters were written and a delegation was sent to Jayapura to meet with and deliver them to the Governor and Provincial Assembly.

In July 1998, LMAA and other community members were informed that the Fish Processing Factory project had been halted. This was a great boost to community self confidence and confirmed the value of having a community organization, LMAA, which could bring together and lead people, and be a way for them to speak with one voice. The experience is also an important precedent both in terms upholding the rights of local people to have a say about what happens in their ancestral domain and in terms of protecting the natural resources of the area from excessive exploitation.

In September, LMAA and community leaders decided to build on their success. They sent another delegation to Jayapura to meet with the Governor and Provincial Assembly to press for the removal of the sub-district head, with whom the community had a number of other substantive grievances. This new found political voice has resulted in added scrutiny and accountability both for the sub-district and district heads and their administrations, and in the replacement of sub-district head in November.