Joint Press Release. June, 2025
Civil Society Response to the Indonesian Government's Reply to the Letter from Nine UN Special Rapporteurs Regarding the Merauke National Strategic Project
Nine United Nations Special Rapporteurs, under the Special Procedure Mechanism, have formally communicated with the Government of Indonesia and PT Global Papua Abadi (GPA), a company involved in the Merauke National Strategic Project (NSP). The Special Rapporteurs raised serious concerns regarding alleged human rights and environmental violations associated with the project. They requested detailed responses from both parties, including clarifications and an assessment of the possibility of halting the project. The Government of Indonesia submitted its official reply on 6 May 2025.
Solidaritas Merauke expresses its deep concern regarding the Government of Indonesia’s response, which appears to deny the documented and ongoing human rights and environmental violations associated with the Merauke NSP. This denial lacks empirical grounding, as the reported incidents continue to occur. Rather than addressing the substance of the concerns raised, the Government’s reply diverts from the core issues and fails to provide the clear and relevant clarifications requested by the UN Special Rapporteurs.
The Government’s response demonstrates a reluctance to resolve the issues at hand and, instead, risks perpetuating systemic human rights and environmental violations stemming from the Merauke NSP, violations that are now affecting areas beyond Merauke. Solidaritas Merauke considers this response to be deeply problematic and unacceptable, as it contravenes Indonesia’s constitutional obligations, disregards the recommendations of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), and falls short of international human rights standards. These shortcomings raise serious doubts about the Government’s commitment to promoting and safeguarding human rights within the framework of its international legal obligations.
Solidaritas Merauke urges the UN Special Rapporteurs to conduct direct monitoring of the alleged human rights and environmental violations occurring in Merauke, Papua. We further call the UN Special Rapporteurs to press the Government of Indonesia to halt the implementation of the Merauke NSP to prevent further widespread human rights violations and environmental harms in Merauke and other affected areas.
Contact Person: 081295000221 (Dita)
Download documents:
1. Letter from UN Special Rapporteurs to the Government of Indonesian.
2. Letter from Nine UN Special Rapporteurs to PT GPA.
3. Response Letter from the Government of Indonesia.
More information here.