DECLARATION OF THE FIRST CONGRESS 'SAVE THE PEOPLES AND FOREST OF PAPUA' PORT NUMBAY, 21 November 2009

WE, THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE FIRST CONGRESS, RECOGNIZE THAT ADAT COMMUNITY
UNDERGOES MARGINALIZATION AND NEGLECTION FROM THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT IN
RELATION TO THE EXPANSION OF PALM OIL PLANTATION, MINING, DECENTRALISATION,
MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVITIES AND LOGGING CONCESSION IN WHICH THESE
ACTIVITIES DO NOT RESPECT AND REGONIZE ADAT COMMUNITY RIGHTS AND CAUSE HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE LAND OF PAPUA.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PAPUA ADAT COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN THE KEY PLAYERS AND MAIN
ACTORS IN NATURAL RESOURCES BASED-LOCAL WISDOM MANAGEMENT FOR CENTURIES. WE
UNDERSTAND THAT ALL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES SHOULD INVOLVE ADAT COMMUNITY AND
ALL OF THE OUTCOMES SHOULD BE MAINLY INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF
PAPUANS

REFLECTING THE REALITY, WE, THE PARTICIPANTS OF FIRST CONGRESS, "SAVE THE
PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER CUSTOMARY LEADERS,
FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CSO/NGO ACTIVISTIS, WOMEN REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS
OUR CONCERN AND POSITION TO PUSH FORWARD FOR A RECOGNITION, PROTECTION OF
ADAT CUSTOMARY RIGHTS AND EMPOWER ADAT COMMUNITY.

WE AFFIRM THAT PAPUA MUST BE MADE AS A PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS LAND FREE
FROM VIOLATIONS AND INTIMIDATIONS. THIS COMMITMENT INSPIRES US TO ISSUE A
DECLARATION IN THIS FIRST KONGRESS 'SAVE THE PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA WITH
THE AFFIRMATION THAT:

"IT IS THE RESPONSIBILTY OF THE STATE TO SAVE THE PEOPLE AND FOREST OF
PAPUA,"

WE THEREFORE DECLARE:

1. PAPUA LAND IS RECOGNIZED AS PAPUAN'S MOTHER WHO GIVES THE
LIFE. THE LAND OF PAPUA IS THE HERITAGE OF ADAT COMMUNITY. THUS, IT BELONG
TO ADAT CUSTOMARY PEOPLE. THERFORE, THE LAND CAN NOT BE SOLD AND BOUGHT.

2. ADAT HONOR, AS PART OF ADAT ASSETS, SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO
NON PAPUANS

3. ALL NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD
BE FREE FROM MILITARY AND POLICE INTERVENTION AND INVOLVEMENT

4. ALL DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAND OF PAPUA AND ITS UTILITY IS
PRIMARILY INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE WELAFARE OF ADAT COMMUNITY. THEREFORE,
ADAT COMMUNITY SHOULD BE INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN ALL
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

5. ALL FORMS OF EXPLOITATION OVER NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE LAND
OF PAPUA WHICH DESTROYS ENVIRONMENT AND CAUSES HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
SHOULD BE STOPPED.

6. THE LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE FREE FROM 'INTELLECTUAL
PROSTITUTION' DONE BY ACADEMICS AND CSO ACTIVISTS WHICH OFTEN LEGITIMATES
DECENTRALIZATION, DESTROYS ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL WISDOM

7. DECENTRALIZATION IN THE LAND OF PAPUA HAS CREATED NEW
PROBLEMS, CAUSES HORIZONTAL CONFLICTS WHICH DESTROYS THE EXISTING ADAT
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE. THEREFORE, THE DECENTRALIZATION OF REGENCY/CITY AND
PROVINCE IN THE LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE STOPPED.

8. ALL FORMS OF ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES FOR CARBON TRADE AND
CARBON COMPENSATION WHICH DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE RIGHTS OF ADAT COMMUNITY IN
LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE STOPPED.

9. THE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD GIVEN TO GOVERNOR OF PAPUA PROVINCE
INDICATES AN APPRECIATION OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR THE EFFORTS TO
SUSTAIN AND PROTECT PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA. THEREFORE, GOVERNMENT OF
PAPUA SHOULD MATERIALIZE AND REALIZE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTION OF
PAPUA LAND

10. THE VIOLATIONS OF INTELLECTUAL RIGHTS DONE BY NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND RESEARCHERS OVER PAPUA ENDEMIC FLORA AND
FAUNA SHOULD BE STOPPED

11. ADAT COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED DRAMATIC DEPOPULATION. THEREFORE,
STATE-SPONSORED FAMILY PLANNING SHOULD BE STOPPED AND ALL PARTIES SHOULD
SERIOUSLY COMBAT THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS, IMPROVE MOTHER AND CHILDREN HEALTH
AND NUTRITION AND PROMOTE EDUCATION QUALITY

12. ADAT COMMUNITY IN THE LAND OF PAPUA IN ALL LEVELS AND THEIR
RESPECTIVE REGIONS SHOULD STRENGTHEN THEIR ADAT STRUCTURE AND THEIR CAPACITY
AND PRESERVE ADAT VALUES AND NORMS.

ALL REGULATIONS ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT WHICH DO NOT RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT AND
EMPOWER ADAT COMMUNITY IN THE LAND OF PAPUA SHOULD BE REMOVED.


WORK FOR YOUR BELOVED LAND
UNITED WE CAN, WE CAN UNITE
SAVE THE PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA
GOD BLESS THE LAND OF PAPUA

============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ==
Norman Jiwan
Head of Department
Social and Environmental Risk Mitigation Initiatives

Sawit Watch, Association
Jl. Sempur Kaler No. 28
Bogor 16129
Phone: +62-251-8352171
Email: norman@sawitwatch. or.id
Homepage: www.sawitwatch. or.id