Court in Jakarta allows indigenous peoples to cultivate forests

Protesters hold posters and banners that read "481,000 hectares is not just number, but our lives!" (left) and "Customary land is not empty land" (right) during a rally in front of the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry in Jakarta on Oct 7, 2025 to protest deforestation that threatens indigenous land in South Papua. - Photo: Antara

JAKARTA: Indigenous communities are permitted to cultivate forest areas without obtaining permits from the government, according to the Constitutional Court in its ruling on a judicial review petition against the Job Creation Law, while legislation to protect indigenous rights remains on the back burner.

During a hearing on Thursday (Oct 16), the court partially granted a petition filed in 2024 by environmental group Sawit Watch.