Indigenous Communities: PSN is Killing the People

One of the indigenous representatives attending the Merauke Solidarity Consolidation broke into tears, pleading with the government to halt the National Strategic Projects (PSN) on March 14, 2025. Holding a sign that read “PSN Bunuh Rakyat (PSN Kills the People)”, the woman from South Papua stated that PSN had brought suffering to her and her community.

More than 250 representatives from NGOs and indigenous communities across various regions gathered in Merauke, South Papua, from March 11-14. On the final day of the event, they read the Merauke Solidarity Declaration to Reject National Strategic Projects (PSN) Across Indonesia.

The declaration was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto Sipin and Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Atnike Sigiro. Mugiyanto Sipin said he would forward input from the community and coordinate with ministries and institutions related to the PSN program.

The attendees were communities affected by the food estate project in North Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, Keerom - Papua, Merauke, and Mappi - South Papua. They were also joined by those impacted by the Rempang Eco City project in Riau Islands, the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara project in East Kalimantan, the Poco Leok geothermal project in East Nusa Tenggara, and the extractive industry for energy plantations and bioenergy in Jambi. Other affected groups included victims of PSN in Fakfak and Bintuni Bay, West Papua, as well as those facing palm oil plantation expansion across Papua.

Merauke, the host of the event, is currently experiencing PSN-driven land expansion spanning 2 million hectares. This massive land-clearing project, initiated under President Joko Widodo, is now being continued by President Prabowo Subianto. The large-scale expansion has had a devastating impact on indigenous communities and the preservation of Papua’s forests.

PSN was launched in 2016, and since then, it has sparked numerous issues, particularly the displacement of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands. Additionally, PSN has caused severe environmental destruction, including deforestation on a massive scale.

A Komnas HAM report highlights that PSN has led to various human rights violations. The program has bypassed legal norms and regulations, resulting in human rights abuses and restrictions.

Furthermore, PSN has been implemented without public participation, leading to land conflicts. The repressive measures taken in PSN-affected regions have escalated human rights violations across Indonesia.

Masyarakat Adat: PSN Membunuh Rakyat

Salah satu perwakilan masyarakat adat yang peserta Konsolidasi Solidaritas Merauke menangis dan meminta pemerintah menghentikan Proyek Strategis Nasional (PSN) pada 14 Maret 2025. Sambil membawa kertas bertuliskan “PSN Bunuh Rakyat”, perempuan asal Papua Selatan tersebut mengatakan bahwa PSN telah membuat hidup dia dan masyarakat adat menderita.

Lebih dari 250 orang dari perwakilan NGO dan masyarakat adat dari berbagai daerah berkumpul di Merauke, Papua Selatan, pada 11-14 Maret lalu. Pada hari terakhir acara, mereka membacakan Deklarasi Solidaritas Merauke Menolak Proyek Strategis Nasional (PSN) di seluruh Indonesia.

Pembacaan deklarasi tersebut disaksikan oleh Wakil Menteri Hak Asasi Manusia Mugiyanto Sipin dan Ketua Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) Atnike Sigiro. Mugiyanto Sipin mengatakan akan meneruskan masukan dari masyarakat sekaligus akan berkoordinasi dengan kementerian dan lembaga yang terkait program PSN.

Peserta Konsolidasi Solidaritas Merauke tersebut 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.

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.