Legal Vacuum in Indigenous Peoples' Legal Representation Regarding Communal Land Rights
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33506/js.v12i1.4701Keywords:
Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Civil Representation, Legal Pluralism, Customary Law, Communal Land GovernanceAbstract
The aim of this study is to critically examine the normative vacuum regarding the civil representation of indigenous peoples in Indonesia, with a particular focus on disputes over communal land rights
The method used is a normative legal approach by examining legislative instruments, jurisprudence, and analysis of selected cases, which aims to reveal systemic weaknesses in the legal recognition of indigenous peoples' representatives in the national legal structure.
The novelty lies in its direct involvement in unresolved issues regarding the legitimacy of indigenous community representation in formal judicial and administrative processes, a dimension that has often been overlooked in previous legal studies.
The results of the study propose a reform agenda that includes formal legal recognition of customary leadership structures, the establishment of regulatory norms based on the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), and the adjustment of civil law principles to better reflect the customary-based collective governance systems that exist within indigenous communities and Informed Consent/FPIC), and the adjustment of civil law principles to better reflect the collective customary-based governance system that prevails within indigenous communities.
The conclusion of the research is that in order to respond to these challenges, this paper proposes a reform agenda that includes formal legal recognition of traditional leadership structures, the establishment of regulatory norms based on the principles of Free, Prior, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles, and the adjustment of civil law principles to better reflect the collective and customary governance systems common among indigenous communities.
References
Ahmad, Nadzriah, Sheela J K Jayabalan, Azlina W N Mat, and Suzaily Wahab. “The Fundamental Rights of Children Deprived of Liberty Indetention Centres Inmalaysia During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.” Uum Journal of Legal Studies 14 (2023). https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2023.14.1.10.
Aisy, Salsabila R, Hary A Hakim, Johny Krisnan, Try Hardyanthi, and Mutia Q D Masithoh. “Customary Criminal Law in the Eastern of Indonesia: The Special Autonomy Province of Papua.” Borobudur Law Review 3, no. 2 (2021): 148–60. https://doi.org/10.31603/burrev.5553.
Akbar, Muhammad, Maisa, Mohamad D Permana, and Hazmi Rusli. “The Progressive Legal Perspective of Legal Justice in Customary Dispute Resolution Related to Natural Resources.” Jurnal Ius Kajian Hukum Dan Keadilan 11, no. 2 (2023). https://doi.org/10.29303/ius.v11i2.1252.
al., Chairul Fahmi et. “Defining Indigenous in Indonesia and Its Applicability to the International Legal Framework on Indigenous People’s Rights.” Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies 8, no. 2 (2023). https://doi.org/10.15294/jils.v8i2.68419.
al., Muhammad Akbar et. “The Progressive Legal Perspective of Legal Justice in Customary Dispute Resolution Related to Natural Resources.” Jurnal Ius Kajian Hukum Dan Keadilan 11, no. 2 (2023). https://doi.org/10.29303/ius.v11i2.1252.
Arifin, Firdaus, I G P Astawa, Ihsanul Maarif, Dewi Sulastri, and Kamarulnizam Abdullah. “Recognition of Customary Norms Within the Framework of Indonesian Legal Positivism.” Khazanah Hukum 7, no. 1 (2025): 92–104. https://doi.org/10.15575/kh.v7i1.39409.
Asher, Rachael. “Unresolved Injustice: An Examination of Indigenous Legal Issues in Australia.” Udayana Journal of Law and Culture 4, no. 2 (2020): 146. https://doi.org/10.24843/ujlc.2020.v04.i02.p02.
Budiastanti, Dhaniar E, Khotbatul Laila, Nahdiya Sabrina, Diah A Wisnuwardhani, and Selvia Wisuda. “Compensation for Land Rights Holders According to the Land Acquisition Law.” Jurnal Cakrawala Hukum 13, no. 2 (2022): 135–44. https://doi.org/10.26905/idjch.v13i2.7970.
Fahmi, Chairul, Azka A Jihad, Akihisa Matsuno, Faisal Fauzan, and Peter-Tobias Stoll. “Defining Indigenous in Indonesia and Its Applicability to the International Legal Framework on Indigenous People’s Rights.” Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies 8, no. 2 (2023). https://doi.org/10.15294/jils.v8i2.68419.
Firmanda, Hengki, Mahmud H Wafi, Mark Woodward, Dina I Supaat, Erlies S Nurbani, and Sudjito. “Land as the Soul of the Nation: Implications of the Transition of Land Status in the Talang Mamak Customary Law Community.” Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law 12, no. 1 (2024): 148–56. https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol12no1.484.
Jamin, Mohammad, Abdul K Jaelani, Duc Q Ly, and Kerry Gershaneck. “Legal Protection of Indigenous Community in Protected Forest Areas Based Forest City.” Bestuur 10, no. 2 (2022): 198. https://doi.org/10.20961/bestuur.v10i2.66090.
Jamin, Mohammad, Abdul K Jaelani, Mulyanto Mulyanto, Reza O Kusumaningtyas, and Duc Q Ly. “The Impact of Indonesia’s Mining Industry Regulation on the Protection of Indigenous Peoples.” Hasanuddin Law Review 9, no. 1 (2023): 88. https://doi.org/10.20956/halrev.v9i1.4033.
Ketaren, Saher R A, and M R Y Prawira. “Unheard Voices: Analyzing Non-Compliance With the FPIC Principle in Protecting Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Indonesia.” Law Development Journal 6, no. 4 (2024): 478. https://doi.org/10.30659/ldj.6.4.478-502.
Kurniawan, Itok D, Arsyad Aldyan, Ismawati Septiningsih, Muhammad Rustamaji, Bambang B Santoso, and Jose G Santos. “Socio-Legal Challenges of Indigenous Land in West Kalimantan: Customary Practices and National Law.” Jurnal Pembaharuan Hukum 11, no. 3 (2024): 473. https://doi.org/10.26532/jph.v11i3.33860.
Kusniati, Retno. “Free, Prior, and Informed Consent Principles as Indigenous Peoples’ Right: Soft Law or Hard Law?” Jambe Law Journal 7, no. 1 (2024): 169–93. https://doi.org/10.22437/home.v7i1.350.
Nashriana, Nashriana, Desia R Banjarani, Michael Gabriel A Del Rosario, and Vera Novianti. “Enhancing Restorative Justice in Indonesia: Exploring Diversion Implementation for Effective Juvenile Delinquency Settlement.” Sriwijaya Law Review, 2023, 318–34. https://doi.org/10.28946/slrev.vol7.iss2.2427.pp318-334.
Patittingi, Farida. “New Paradigm in Natural Resources Management: Securing Indigenous Peoples Rights.” Hasanuddin Law Review 6, no. 1 (2020): 56. https://doi.org/10.20956/halrev.v6i1.2267.
Permadi, Iwan, Weny A Dungga, and Azhani Arshad. “Ensuring Indigenous Peopleâ€TMs Rights Protection Through Normative Law in Land Acquisition for Indonesiaâ€TMs New National Capital City, Nusantara.” Jambura Law Review 7, no. 1 (2024): 30–54. https://doi.org/10.33756/jlr.v7i1.24930.
Pratiwi, Cekli S. “Bridging the Gap Between Cultural Relativism and Universality of Human Rights: Indonesia Attitudes.” Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies 5, no. 2 (2020): 449–78. https://doi.org/10.15294/jils.v5i2.39271.
Purwanto, Harry. “Safeguarding the National Airspace of Indonesia Under the Framework of International Air Law.” Jurnal Hukum Novelty 12, no. 2 (2021): 191. https://doi.org/10.26555/novelty.v12i2.a18528.
Sahlan, Nurul Miqat, and Susi Susilawati. “Realizing ‘Deconstructional’ Justice Through Agrarian Civil Law Reform: A Review of Jacques Derrida’s Theory.” Jurnal Ius Kajian Hukum Dan Keadilan 12, no. 3 (2024): 588–606. https://doi.org/10.29303/ius.v12i3.1559.
Serfiyani, Cita Y, Ari Purwadi, and Ardhiwinda Kusumaputra. “Declarative System in Preventing the Criminalisation of Indigenous People for Adat Rights Conflicts in Indonesia.” Sriwijaya Law Review, 2022, 254–67. https://doi.org/10.28946/slrev.vol6.iss2.1359.pp254-267.
Setiabudhi, Donna O, Ahsan Yunus, Irwansyah Irwansyah, and A L M Rifky. “The Role of Land Management Paradigm Towards Certainty and Justice.” Bestuur 11, no. 1 (August) (2023): 43. https://doi.org/10.20961/bestuur.v11i1.71710.
Soelistyowati, Soelistyowati. “Reassessing State Responsibility for Indigenous Rights to Natural Resources Based on Justice Principle.” Jambe Law Journal 7, no. 1 (2024): 149–67. https://doi.org/10.22437/home.v7i1.347.
Sufriadi, Yanto, Laily Ratna, and Syarifudin Syarifudin. “The Violence in Conflict of Natural Resources Tenure Rights- Companies vs Traditional Communities in Indonesia.” Uum Journal of Legal Studies 15, no. 1 (2024): 197–220. https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2024.15.1.9.
Sumarni Sumarni Astrid M Sugiana, Muhammad E Wijaya. “Safeguarding Indigenous Rights and Territories: Integrating Dayak Ngaju Wisdom in Peatland Ecosystem Management.” Udayana Journal of Law and Culture 7, no. 2 (2023). https://doi.org/10.24843/ujlc.2023.v07.i02.p01.
Sumarni, Sumarni, Muhammad E Wijaya, and Astrid M Sugiana. “Safeguarding Indigenous Rights and Territories: Integrating Dayak Ngaju Wisdom in Peatland Ecosystem Management.” Udayana Journal of Law and Culture 7, no. 2 (2023): 121. https://doi.org/10.24843/ujlc.2023.v07.i02.p01.
Tampubolon, M H R. “Legal and Problematic Protection of Social Movements to the Tau Taa Wana Indigenous People.” Substantive Justice International Journal of Law 3, no. 2 (2020): 147. https://doi.org/10.33096/substantivejustice.v3i2.77.
Tan, Kendry, and Hari S Disemadi. “Urgency of Electronic Wallet Regulation in Indonesia.” Nagari Law Review 5, no. 1 (2021): 1. https://doi.org/10.25077/nalrev.v.5.i.1.p.1-14.2021.
Wuryandari, Utji S W, Anggi D Chairani, and Myrna A Safitri. “Weak Investment Law Enforcement in Land and Forest Fire Cases in Indonesia.” Substantive Justice International Journal of Law 5, no. 2 (2022): 205. https://doi.org/10.56087/substantivejustice.v5i2.204.
Yubaidi, Ricco S, Mazliza Mohamad, and Saidatul N A Aziz. “Land Registration Acceleration in Indonesia: A Lesson-Learned Guideline From Land Registration Issues in Malaysia.” Uum Journal of Legal Studies 13, no. No.1 (2022): 155–74. https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2022.13.1.7.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Devin Jinoto
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
