SIEJ: Indigenous voices are scarce in coverage of Indigenous Peoples Bill

The Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) has observed a significant underrepresentation of indigenous voices in media coverage concerning the proposed Indigenous Peoples Bill. A monitoring study conducted from January to June 2026 revealed that indigenous communities are rarely included as primary sources in news reports about the legislation.

Fachri Hamzah, a researcher at SIEJ, presented the findings, stating that the monitoring showed indigenous peoples' perspectives were seldom highlighted in the media's reporting on the bill. This observation was shared during a Green Editor Forum attended by representatives from the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN), media editors, civil society organizations, members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), academics, and indigenous community representatives.

"SIEJ's monitoring results show that indigenous peoples are still not the main subject in the news," Fachri stated in a press release in Makassar. The quantitative data from the analysis of 27 news articles, which contained a total of 48 quotes from sources, indicated that only seven quotes originated from indigenous individuals. In contrast, members of the DPR RI and civil society organizations were quoted 15 times each, dominating the sourced information.

Responding to these findings, Muhammad Nasir Djamil, a member of the Legislation Body of the DPR RI and the working committee for the Indigenous Peoples Bill, affirmed that the legislative process is ongoing and actively incorporates aspirations from indigenous communities across various regions. He mentioned that the working committee plans to hear input from indigenous communities in Papua, following visits to several other areas. Djamil emphasized that the contributions from indigenous peoples, academics, civil society organizations, and the media are crucial for refining the bill.

Djamil further noted the necessity of such a regulation to establish legal certainty for the recognition and protection of indigenous rights, particularly in light of persistent agrarian conflicts and pressures on indigenous territories. The bill aims to address these issues by providing a clear legal framework for the rights and welfare of indigenous communities throughout Indonesia.

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SIEJ's monitoring results show that indigenous peoples are still not the main subject in the news.