The Awyu indigenous community has taken further legal action by filing a cassation against the Manado Administrative High Court’s decision to the Indonesian Supreme Court. On 1 March 2024, the Manado Court rejected the Awyu people’s appeal regarding the environmental feasibility permit issued to the palm oil company PT Indo Asiana Lestari PT (IAL). The cassation was submitted through the Jayapura State Administrative Court by the Coalition Team to Save Papua’s Indigenous Forests, serving as legal counsel for the Awyu indigenous people.
The dispute revolves around an environmental permit issued for an oil palm plantation development plan in Mandobo District and Fofi District, Boven Digoel Regency, Papua Selatan Province, which the Awyu indigenous community claims was issued without their knowledge.
The Awyu people and their attorneys were disappointed by the Manado Administrative High Court’s rejection of the appeal. They particularly expressed concerns regarding the absence of licensed environmental judges on the panel that examined the case. Mr. Emanuel Gobay, a legal team member, emphasized the significance of the appeal verdict for the Awyu indigenous people’s livelihoods and hoped that the Supreme Court judges overseeing the cassation would approach the matter with greater diligence and fairness.
