Indigenous Community Leaders Support LBH Papua Merauke

Nine Indigenous leaders from South Papua stood as witnesses to the establishment of LBH Papua Merauke on March 13, 2025. These representatives expressed their hope that LBH Papua Merauke would lead them in their pursuit of justice.

During the event, Indigenous representatives ceremonially handed over spears, bows, and arrows to the Director of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Muhamad Isnur, and the Director of LBH Jayapura, Emanuel Gobay. The weapons were then entrusted to John Teddy Wakum, the Director of LBH Papua Merauke.

The handover of these symbolic weapons represented the trust of South Papua’s Indigenous communities in LBH Papua Merauke to advocate for their rights and justice. Among those present were representatives of the Auwyu, Marind Animha, Yei, and Muyu Mandobo tribes.

The declaration of LBH Papua Merauke was 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) attended. The PSN-affected community representatives came from Jambi, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua. They shared their experiences as PSN victims, emphasizing 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.

Tokoh Masyarakat Adat Mendukung Berdirinya LBH Papua Merauke

Tampak sembilan tokoh masyarakat adat Papua Selatan menjadi saksi berdirinya LBH Papua Merauke pada 13 Maret 2025. Para perwakilan masyarakat adat tersebut berharap LBH Papua Merauke bisa menjadi pemimpin mereka dalam menuntut keadilan. 

Dalam acara tersebut perwakilan masyarakat adat menyerahkan tombak, busur, dan panah kepada Direktur Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI) Muhamad Isnur dan Direktur LBH Jayapura Emanuel Gobay di acara deklarasi berdirinya LBH Papua Merauke pada 13 Maret 2025. Tombak dan panah tersebut selanjutnya diserahkan ke Direktur LBH Papua Merauke John Teddy Wakum.

Penyerahan tombak, busur, dan panah tersebut adalah simbol kepercayaan masyarakat adat di Papua Selatan kepada LBH Papua Merauke untuk memimpin mereka menuntut keadilan. Masyarakat adat yang hadir antara lain dari perwakilan Suku Auwyu, Suku Marind Animha, Suku Yei, dan Suku Muyu Mandobo.

Deklarasi berdirinya LBH Papua Merauke itu merupakan salah satu rangkaian acara Konsolidasi Solidaritas Merauke yang diadakan pada 11-14 Maret. Acara tersebut diadakan di 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 hadir. Perwakilan masyarakat korban PSN 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.