MAUMERE, RAKYAT NEWS – In a controversial ruling today, the Maumere District Court sentenced eight indigenous community members from Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, to 10 months in prison for defending their ancestral land against forced evictions by a corporate entity.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, with Amnesty International Indonesia condemning the verdict as a blatant violation of human rights.

The eight individuals, including two mothers separated from their children due to the criminalization process, were convicted under Article 170 of the Indonesian Criminal Code for allegedly damaging a signboard belonging to PT Krisrama, a company reportedly owned by the Maumere Diocese. The incident occurred during a protest against the destruction of homes and productive crops by the company on January 22, 2025.

Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director, Usman Hamid, stated, “Imprisoning indigenous people for defending their land against forced evictions is a clear human rights violation. This verdict not only undermines justice but also highlights the state’s failure to protect indigenous communities from corporate exploitation.”

The case stems from a long-standing land conflict in Sikka, where the indigenous Soge Natarmage and Goban Runut communities have been reclaiming their ancestral land, which was historically controlled by Dutch colonial authorities and later transferred to the Catholic Church. Despite the expiration of PT Krisrama’s land-use permit (HGU) in 2013, the company regained control in 2023, leading to tensions and violent clashes with the local community.

On July 29, 2024, a forced eviction in Pedan Village, Talibura District, resulted in the destruction of 142 trees and crops vital to the community’s livelihood. During the eviction, residents resisted, leading to the alleged vandalism of PT Krisrama’s property. The eight defendants were arrested on October 25, 2024, and have been detained since.

The court’s decision to impose a harsher sentence than the seven months initially sought by prosecutors has further fueled outrage. The Indigenous Peoples’ Defense Association (PPMAN), representing the defendants, criticized the verdict as discriminatory and a violation of the principle of equality before the law. They also highlighted the lack of legal action against PT Krisrama for destroying the community’s crops, despite a police report filed on August 28, 2024.

This case is not isolated. Amnesty International Indonesia has documented at least eight similar attacks on indigenous communities between January 2019 and December 2024, involving over 110 victims of criminalization, intimidation, and physical violence.

Human rights advocates are calling for the immediate release of the eight indigenous defenders and urging the government to prioritize dialogue over repression. They emphasize that the state must act as a neutral facilitator to ensure indigenous rights are protected and that corporate interests do not override constitutional mandates.

The High Court and Supreme Court are now under pressure to overturn the Maumere District Court’s ruling and guarantee the indigenous community’s rights to their land, culture, and natural resources. As the conflict continues, the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by indigenous communities in Indonesia to protect their ancestral lands from exploitation. (Uki Ruknuddin)