Traditional Dance Welcomes the Declaration of LBH Papua Merauke

A group of Papuan youths dressed in traditional attire performed an indigenous dance at the Declaration of LBH Papua Merauke event on March 13, 2025. The male dancers wore hats adorned with cassowary feathers and carried bows and arrows, while the female dancers wore headdresses made of sago palm leaves and carried fishing nets. Their performance was accompanied by the tifa, a traditional Papuan drum.

The Declaration of LBH Papua Merauke was held as part of the Merauke Solidarity Consolidation event, which took place from March 11 to 14, 2025, at the Petrus Vertenten MSC Center on Jalan Raya Cigombong, Kampung Kelapa Lima, Merauke District, South Papua.

Approximately 300 representatives from NGOs and Indigenous communities affected by the National Strategic Project (PSN) gathered in Merauke. The PSN-affected communities came from various regions, including Jambi, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua. They shared their experiences as PSN victims, highlighting how government projects in their regions had led to displacement and environmental destruction.

Several civil society organizations participated in the event, including Bentala Pusaka, YLBHI, Walhi, the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), Trend Asia, KPA, and LBH.

Tarian Adat Menyambut Deklarasi LBH Papua Merauke

Tampak sejumlah pemuda Papua mengenakan pakaian tradisional dan menarikan tarian adat di acara Deklarasi LBH Papua Merauke pada 13 Maret 2025. Para penari laki-laki mengenakan topi dari bulu burung kasuari dan membawa panah. Sedangkan para penari perempuan mengenakan penutup rambut dari daun pohon sagu dan membawa jaring. Mereka menari dengan diiringi tifa, alat musik tradisional Papua.

Acara Deklarasi LBH Papua Merauke itu diadakan di sela acara Konsolidasi Solidaritas Merauke yang diadakan pada 11-14 Maret 2025 di gedung Petrus Vertenten MSC center, Jalan Raya Cigombong, Kampung Kelapa Lima, Kecamatan Merauke, Papua Selatan.

Sekitar 300 orang perwakilan dari NGO dan masyarakat adat korban PSN dari seluruh Indonesia berkumpul di Merauke.

Perwakilan masyarakat korban PSN di Merauke berasal dari Jambi, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Maluku, dan Papua. Mereka berbagi cerita mengenai kondisi mereka yang menjadi korban PSN. Proyek pemerintah di daerah mereka justru menyebabkan masyarakat tergusur dan merusak lingkungan.

Sejumlah organisasi masyarakat sipil yang ikut serta dalam kegiatan tersebut antara lain Bentala Pusaka, YLBHI, Walhi, Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara, Trend Asia, KPA dan LBH.