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

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WE, THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE FIRST CONGRESS, RECOGNIZE THAT PAPUA CUSTOMARY (ADAT) COMMUNITY UNDERGOES MARGINALIZATION AND NEGLECTION FROM THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO THE OPENING AND EXPANSION OF PALM OIL PLANTATION, MINING, DECENTRALISATION, MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES AND LOGGING CONCESSIONS 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 ACTIVISTS, 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’S LAND IS PAPUAN’S MOTHER WHO GIVES THE LIFE. THE LAND OF PAPUA IS THE ANCESTRAL HERITAGE OF ADAT COMMUNITY. THUS, IT BELONGS TO ADAT PEOPLE. THERFORE, THE LAND IS NOT FOR SALE

2. THE TITLE OF ADAT, AS AN INSEPERABLE PART OF ADAT ASSETS, SHOULD NOT BE AWARDED 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 PRESERVED LOCAL WISDOM

7. DECENTRALIZATION IN THE LAND OF PAPUA HAS CREATED NEW PROBLEMS, CAUSED 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.

UNITED WE CAN, WE CAN UNITE

SAVE THE PEOPLE AND FOREST OF PAPUA

GOD BLESS THE LAND OF PAPUA

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