Public Declaration Rejecting PSN Echoes from Merauke

Representatives of communities affected by National Strategic Projects (PSN) from various regions across Indonesia delivered the Solidarity Merauke Declaration rejecting PSN on March 14, 2025. Their opposition targeted PSN developments in Merauke, Papua, and other areas throughout the country.

“We demand a total halt to National Strategic Projects (PSN) and other so-called national interest projects that clearly sacrifice the people. State-corporate criminals must return all stolen wealth to the people and immediately restore public health and living spaces in all regions harmed in the name of national interest,” stated the declaration read by representatives in Merauke, South Papua.

The declaration was the result of the Merauke Solidarity Consolidation meeting, held from March 11 to 14, 2025, in Merauke, South Papua. Over four days, more than 250 Indigenous people and local communities impacted by PSN, along with various civil society organizations, gathered in solidarity to reject PSN.

Participants included communities affected by the food estate project in North Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, Keerom (Papua), and Merauke and Mappi (South Papua). Additionally, representatives from communities impacted by the Rempang Eco City project in Riau Islands, the Nusantara new capital city (IKN) project in East Kalimantan, the geothermal project in Poco Leok (East Nusa Tenggara), and the energy and bioenergy plantation industry in Jambi were present. Also in attendance were victims of PSN projects in Fakfak and Teluk Bintuni (West Papua) and those affected by palm oil plantation expansion across Papua.

Merauke, the host of the consolidation, is currently facing PSN expansion involving the clearing of two million hectares of land. This project, originally initiated under President Joko Widodo, is now being continued by President Prabowo Subianto. The large-scale deforestation threatens both Indigenous communities and the biodiversity of Papua’s forests.

The event was attended by the Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Atnike Sigiro, who revealed that from 2020 to 2023, Komnas HAM had received 114 complaints related to PSN. She noted that Komnas HAM had also submitted several recommendations to ministries and government agencies regarding alleged human rights violations in PSN projects.

The declaration was also witnessed by the Deputy Minister of Human Rights, Mugiyanto Sipin, who pledged to convey the concerns of the affected communities and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies overseeing PSN programs.

Meanwhile, Franky Samperante, Coordinator of Solidarity Merauke, emphasized that the movement to oppose PSN would continue to grow unless the government met their demands.

PSN has been implemented in various regions across Indonesia since 2016, leading to numerous problems as Indigenous communities have been displaced from their ancestral lands. Furthermore, PSN projects have caused large-scale deforestation and environmental degradation.

A report from Komnas HAM highlights that PSN projects have resulted in various human rights violations, bypassing numerous legal norms and regulations, ultimately restricting and infringing upon human rights.

The implementation of PSN has also been carried out without proper public involvement, triggering agrarian conflicts. The repressive approach taken in disputed PSN areas has only added to Indonesia’s record of human rights violations.

According to the Consortium for Agrarian Reform (KPA), from 2020 to 2024, PSN-related land seizures led to the displacement of 103,000 female heads of households from their sources of livelihood. The destruction of water sources and loss of traditional food sources such as sago, forest vegetables, fish, and other proteins from rivers and seas have left Indigenous communities struggling to survive.

Deklarasi Masyarakat Menolak PSN Berkumandang dari Merauke

Sejumlah perwakilan masyarakat korban Proyek Strategis Nasional (PSN) dari berbagai daerah di Indonesia membacakan deklarasi Solidaritas Merauke menolak PSN pada 14 Maret 2025. Penolakan tersebut ditujukan kepada PSN yang ada di Merauke, Papua, serta daerah lain di Indonesia. 

“Kami menuntut penghentian total Proyek Strategis Nasional (PSN) serta proyek-proyek atas nama kepentingan nasional lainnya yang jelas-jelas mengorbankan rakyat. Pelaku kejahatan-negara-korporasi wajib mengembalikan semua kekayaan rakyat yang dicuri dan segera memulihkan kesehatan dan ruang hidup rakyat di seluruh wilayah yang dikorbankan atas nama kepentingan nasional,” demikian petikan deklarasi yang dibacakan perwakilan rakyat dalam pertemuan di Merauke, Papua Selatan. 

Deklarasi tersebut adalah hasil pertemuan “Konsolidasi Solidaritas Merauke” yang berlangsung pada 11-14 Maret 2025 di Kota Merauke, Papua Selatan. Selama empat hari, lebih dari 250 masyarakat adat dan masyarakat lokal terdampak PSN, serta pelbagai organisasi masyarakat sipil, berkumpul untuk bersolidaritas menolak PSN. 

Warga yang hadir merupakan masyarakat terdampak proyek food estate di Sumatera Utara, Kalimantan Tengah, Keerom - Papua, Merauke dan Mappi, Papua Selatan. Kemudian masyarakat terdampak PSN proyek Rempang Eco City di Kepulauan Riau dan proyek Ibu Kota Negara (IKN) Nusantara di Kalimantan Timur. Juga ada masyarakat korban PSN proyek geothermal Poco Leok di Nusa Tenggara Timur dan proyek industri ekstraktif hutan tanaman energi dan bioenergi di Jambi. Kemudian masyarakat korban PSN di Fakfak dan Teluk Bintuni, Papua Barat, serta ekspansi perkebunan sawit di seluruh tanah Papua. 

Merauke yang menjadi tuan rumah konsolidasi tersebut saat ini sedang menghadapi ekspansi PSN berupa pembukaan lahan seluas 2 juta hektare. Proyek tersebut adalah warisan Presiden Joko Widodo yang kini diteruskan oleh Presiden Prabowo Subianto. Pembukaan lahan secara masif itu berdampak luas terhadap masyarakat adat sekaligus mengancam kelestarian hutan Papua.

Ketua Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) Atnike Sigiro yang hadir dalam deklarasi mengatakan, sepanjang 2020-2023 lembaganya menerima 114 kasus aduan terkait PSN. Ia menyebutkan Komnas HAM juga telah menyampaikan sejumlah rekomendasi kepada kementerian dan lembaga terkait dugaan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di proyek PSN. 

Deklarasi tersebut juga disaksikan oleh Wakil Menteri Hak Asasi Manusia Mugiyanto Sipin. Dia mengatakan akan meneruskan masukan dari masyarakat sekaligus akan berkoordinasi dengan kementerian dan lembaga yang terkait program PSN.

Sedangkan Koordinator Solidaritas Merauke, Franky Samperante mengatakan, gerakan menolak PSN akan terus bergulir dan membesar selama pemerintah tidak memenuhi tuntutan mereka. 

PSN mulai dijalankan di berbagai daerah di Indonesia sejak 2016. Sejak saat itu berbagai persoalan muncul karena proyek ini menyebabkan masyarakat adat terusir dari tanah ulayat mereka. Selain itu, PSN juga menyebabkan kerusakan hutan dan lingkungan secara masif.

Laporan Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) menyebutkan PSN menimbulkan pelbagai bentuk pelanggaran hak asasi manusia. PSN juga telah menerabas banyak norma dan ketentuan perundang-undangan, hingga berimbas pada penghalangan dan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia.

Pelaksanaan PSN juga dilakukan tanpa pelibatan rakyat yang pada akhirnya memicu konflik agraria. Pendekatan represif di wilayah PSN yang berkonflik terus menambah catatan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di Indonesia. 

Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria (KPA) mencatat, sebanyak 103 ribu ibu rumah tangga kehilangan sumber penghidupan akibat perampasan tanah oleh proyek PSN sepanjang 2020-2024. Rusaknya sumber air, hilangnya sumber pangan, seperti sagu, sayuran yang tumbuh di hutan, ikan dan berbagai sumber protein di sungai dan laut, membuat masyarakat adat kehilangan mata pencaharian.