A Legal Analysis of Alleged Violations of Indigenous Land Rights and Human Rights in the Merauke Sugar National Strategic Project
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37253/conescintech.v6i1.12812Keywords:
Indigenous customary land rights, Human rights, Merauke Sugar National Strategic Project, State and corporate responsibility, Sustainable developmentAbstract
The Merauke Sugar National Strategic Project has generated significant legal and human rights concerns due to its potential impact on indigenous customary land rights and the livelihoods of indigenous communities in South Papua. This study examines whether the implementation of the project has affected indigenous customary land rights and analyzes the responsibilities of the state and corporations regarding alleged human rights violations arising from the project. The research employs a normative legal research method using statutory, conceptual, and case approaches. The study relies on primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials, including national legislation, international human rights instruments, legal doctrines, and scholarly literature. The findings indicate that although the project contributes to national economic development, food security, and investment growth, its implementation raises concerns regarding the protection of indigenous customary land rights, meaningful participation, and compliance with the principle of *Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). The study further reveals that both the state and corporations bear legal and ethical responsibilities to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of indigenous peoples in accordance with national law, international human rights standards, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and sustainability principles. By integrating national legal frameworks, international human rights instruments, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, and Satjipto Rahardjo’s Progressive Legal Theory, this study contributes to the development of legal scholarship concerning indigenous peoples’ rights, investment governance, and sustainable development. The findings are expected to provide guidance for policymakers, corporations, and other stakeholders in promoting development that balances economic growth, human rights protection, and environmental sustainability.
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