The Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR)/Head of National Land Agency (BPN) Nusron Wahid issued Decisions on the Right to Cultivate (HGU), the Right to Build (HGB) covering an area of 328,000 hectares, with the argument to ensure the availability of land as well as legal certainty of land rights for the developer of the National Food, Energy and Water Self-Sufficiency Area in South Papua Province.
The Decisions on HGU and HGB were given to PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara. This was stated by Minister Nusron Wahid to the media after the Coordination Meeting for the Development of National Food, Energy and Water Self-Sufficiency Areas held at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, Jakarta, on Monday (12 January 2026). See here.
Previously, in September 2025, the Minister of Forestry issued Decision of the Minister of Forestry Number 591 Year 2025 regarding Amendment to Decision of the Minister of Forestry Number 430 Year 2025 regarding changes in the designation of forest areas to non-forest areas and changes in the function of forest areas in the context of the review of the regional spatial plan of South Papua Province, which stipulates additional area of conversion of Forest Areas to Non-Forest Areas/Other Use Areas (APL) of 486,939 hectares.
The policy of decision to change the allocation of Forest Areas and HGU on a large scale, as well as stipulation of the Regional Spatial Planning (RTRW) of South Papua Province (Regional Regulation Number 3 Year 2025) was carried out quickly, without any consent from nor meaningful consultation with the indigenous peoples of Papua, the Malind Anim, Yei, Wambon Kenemopte and Awyu tribes. They live and own customary territories that became the target of PSN (National Strategic Project) extractive zone. The state disregards the FPIC (Free Prior Informed Consent) principle; the state does not recognize, respect and protect the authority and rights of indigenous peoples, the right to life, the rights to indigenous lands and territories.
The Minister of ATR/Head of BPN official stated that the forest area targeted by the PSN project in South Papua is a state-owned forest, with no inhabitants and no settlements therein. This statement characterizes the continued strong paradigm and practice of colonialism in the country's development policy. There is also a continued assertion that the Land of Papua is Empty Land and is a no man’s land, such that it seems normal to control and occupy the customary lands and forests, and to deny the existence and rights of indigenous peoples.
The decisions on stipulation of the RTRWP, State Forest Areas and the granting of HGU, constitute a form of Nature Robbery, land grabbing, and privatization of customary land in extractive economy through regulations, for the purpose of commodification and to serve the expansion of extractive industries of intensive agricultural and plantation businesses, biodiesel, biomass and bioethanol industries, in the name of developing food and energy self-sufficiency, which is managed in a modern manner, with large capital, modern machinery technology and equipment, utilizing seeds, chemical fertilizers and export crops, modern management and organization, involving and controlled by capital owners and corporations (state and private).
The robbery and large-scale exploitation of nature, the neglect and removal of people's existence and rights, the removal of people's agricultural systems and food businesses, the depletion of soil vitality, deforestation and destruction of High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA), carried out in violent, cunning, corrupt and cruel manners, have been proven to cost lives and property losses, lead to social unrest and conflict, climate change and its impacts, which are inevitable. The catastrophe in Sumatra and other places has provided lessons from socio-ecological disasters, which we should not repeat.
The appropriation of living areas and the privatization of customary land belonging to indigenous peoples on a large scale in the name of development as well as the abuse of law and power constitute unjust acts and violate the 1945 Constitution, contrary to the laws and regulations and international instruments on Human Rights, the rights of indigenous peoples, climate change and biodiversity protection, and violate the customary law.
We, a coalition of civil society organizations and victims of the National Strategic Project, who are members of Solidaritas Merauke, declare and strongly condemn the state's policy of issuing the regulations and decisions, namely the South Papua Provincial RTRW (PPS Regional Regulation Number 3/2025), the Decision of the Minister of Forestry (Number 591/2025) regarding changes in the allocation of Forest Areas, the Decisions on the granting of Right to Cultivation and Right to Build, which deprive indigenous peoples of their rights, destroying sociocultural life, disrupting and disturbing the ecosystem balance.
Solidaritas Merauke call on the president and local governments to immediately stop the National Strategic Project and large-scale extractive economic projects, which are unjust, and are at the expense of the people and the environment.
We fully support the endeavors of the victims and people who are affected by the PSN to stand in solidarity in the struggle for justice and the right to life, to defend and secure customary territories.
One Power, One Struggle, Nurture Life
Jakarta, 19 January 2026
Spokespersons Contact:
Franky Samperante +62 811-1256-019
Teddy Wakum +62 822-4245-0431
Note:
The operations of PSN sugarcane plantation projects by PT Global Papua Abadi and PT Murni Nusantara Mandiri in Jagebob and Tanah Miring Districts, Merauke, had cleared an area of 31,450.36 hectares and deforestation in an area of 15,643.1 ha. (updated 1 January 2026). Meanwhile, the food estate PSN in Wanam, Ilwayab District, Merauke, had cleared 8,809.98 ha of land and 5,934.01 ha of deforestation. (Updated October 2025).
Link to Images:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11_sgUEPiq-GMTBgYRRIy9i1qh1xePcy8?usp=sharing