The Sumuri Indigenous community, comprising 19 clans in the Teluk Bintuni Regency, has issued a resolute rejection of the proposed expansion of palm oil plantations by PT. Borneo Subur Prima and PT. Farita Maju Utama. The announcement was made during a traditional assembly held on 3 May 2025 at the Tofoi Village Hall, where the community voiced concerns about environmental destruction, socio-economic marginalisation, and the violation of their customary land rights. Mr Benediktus Ateta, head of the Ateta clan, spoke on behalf of the broader Sumuri people, declaring that “our land is a legacy of our ancestors, not to be commercialised for corporate interests.”
The opposition builds upon earlier meetings, particularly one held on 17 April 2025 on Ateta clan land in Forda Padang Raja Wali Village, where Benediktus detailed four central grievances: (1) environmental degradation, (2) land dispossession, (3) adverse social impacts, and (4) lack of material benefits to the indigenous population. The community noted that despite the presence of palm oil companies, they had received no meaningful economic development or social support. Furthermore, they stressed that any development that ignores free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) is illegitimate under national law and international human rights law.
The Sumuri community’s rejection is backed by members of the Papua Barat People’s Council (MRPB), whose attendance at both the April and May meetings signifies political and moral support for Indigenous resistance. Despite these clear rejections, the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) process reportedly continues with approval from the Environmental Agency, exacerbating local distrust and fears of imminent dispossession.
The Sumuri case highlights the repeated violation of Indigenous peoples’ rights as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). In particular, the ongoing development plans undermine Articles 10 and 32 of UNDRIP, which prohibit forcible removal and require states to obtain FPIC before the approval of any project affecting Indigenous territories. Indonesian law (notably the Constitutional Court Ruling No. 35/PUU-X/2012) also affirms customary ownership, yet its implementation remains inconsistent in West Papua.
