RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) across the region is taking decisive steps to safeguard indigenous land rights by drafting a Special Provincial Regulation (Perdasus) that would prohibit the sale of customary land in the province.

Chairman of the MRP Association in Papua, Agustinus Anggaibak, announced in Nabire on Sunday, April 12, 2026, that the assembly has agreed on a joint recommendation to ensure customary land cannot be sold, even among Papuans themselves.

“We are pushing for regulation through Perdasus so that customary land cannot be traded. This is crucial to protect the rights of Papuan communities over their land,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

The proposed framework emphasizes certificates of usage rights rather than ownership titles, ensuring that land remains under the control of indigenous communities. Agustinus cautioned that short-term transactions could leave people without homes in their own land.

“Selling land may bring temporary financial relief, but it does not last. Eventually, communities could lose their place of belonging,” he explained.

Under the usage-rights scheme, investors would still be able to utilize land for business purposes, while indigenous communities benefit economically without losing ownership.

“This way, communities retain their land while also gaining from cooperation with investors,” Agustinus added.

He stressed that protecting customary land through Perdasus is central to preserving Papuan identity and livelihoods. As a derivative of the Special Autonomy Law, Perdasus is designed to safeguard the rights of Indigenous Papuans (OAP).

“This is an effort to secure the future of Papuan communities so they continue to own their land,” Agustinus, who also MRP chair of Central Papua, concluded. ***