Does Indonesia's government not care about Papua's environment and human rights?
Papua continues to experience large-scale deforestation for rice, sugar, and bioethanol production (PSN Merauke) – despite strong resistance from Indigenous peoples, our petition, and the United Nations’ request for clarification. The Solidaritas Merauke alliance has analyzed the Indonesian government’s evasive response to UN criticism.
“The Indonesian government’s response creates even more problems and is unacceptable,” says Solidaritas Merauke.
The issue: Three million hectares have been designated for projects involving rice plantations, sugar, and bioethanol in the Merauke government district, located in southern Papua. This area is critically important for biodiversity, the climate, and human rights. With military involvement, intact rainforest is being completely cleared and the ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples are being destroyed. The work of our partner organization Pusaka, as well as our project to protect the rainforest and empower Indigenous Papuans in southern Papua, is also at risk.
This is why, together with other organizations, we approached nine United Nations Special Rapporteurs in December 2024. In March 2025, these Rapporteurs demanded clarification from the Indonesian government and the companies involved. The government’s evasive response has been available since May.
Solidaritas Merauke has now published a comprehensive analysis of the correspondence. According to the report, the government’s response shows a lack of willingness to address environmental and human rights issues.
Beyond the Merauke National Strategic Project, Solidaritas Merauke also criticizes the overall approach of these projects, as they often involve land grabbing and are implemented with military force, excluding local communities from decision-making: “We doubt the government’s commitment to protecting human rights and the environment if it continues the National Strategic Projects.”
Please sign our petition, “Indonesia: Stop the destruction of Papua’s Marind forest!”
Solidaritas Merauke’s Response (in English and Indonesian) is 79 pages and includes:
• a press release
• an analysis by Solidaritas Merauke
• letters from the nine UN Special Rapporteurs
• the response from the government of Indonesia
See our urgent appeal regarding the Merauke National Strategic Project to the nine UN Special Rapporteurs, December 2024.
Read the letters from the UN Special Rapporteurs to the Indonesian government and to Global Papua Abadi.
The response of the Indonesian government can be found here: Government of Indonesia to UN Special Rapporteurs on PSN Merauke.
Further information about PSN Merauke on our website:
UN calls for explanation on Merauke sugar and ethanol project after environmental appeal
Commission report: PSN Merauke sugar and bioethanol project violates human rights
Indonesia: Indigenous peoples speak out against Merauke project
This page is available in the following languages:
Indonesia: Stop the destruction of Papua’s Marind forest!
Indonesia is implementing a sugar and ethanol program in southern Papua under military protection. Two million hectares of rainforest and Indigenous land are at risk.
Saving the rainforest of southern Papua and empowering Indigenous Papuans
The rainforests in Papua are experiencing an unprecedented onslaught of timber, palm oil and mining companies. Land grabbing and clear cutting are rife. Indigenous Papuans are losing their livelihoods as the forest disappears. The environmental and human rights organization Pusaka is mounting a defense against environmental destruction and land grabbing.
Biofuel
The use of bioethanol and biodiesel in motor vehicles is a misguided attempt to save the climate. The ugly reality is that "green" fuels are destroying rainforests, accelerating climate change and condemning millions to poverty and hunger.