UN human rights specialists have raised significant concerns over Indonesia's persistent neglect of its indigenous populations' rights. In a recent statement, they appealed to the Indonesian government to formally acknowledge these communities and collaborate with them to forge a comprehensive and sustainable development strategy.

Although Indonesia endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, the country continues to withhold formal recognition from self-identified indigenous groups. This oversight undermines their rights to land, self-determination, and cultural preservation, according to the experts.

Albert Barume, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, emphasized the importance of recognizing all groups. "Giving recognition to all groups, respecting their differences and allowing them all to flourish, in a truly democratic spirit, does not lead to conflict—it prevents conflict," he stated. He also highlighted the adverse impacts of the renewed colonial-era transmigration program on the cultural survival of Indigenous Peoples, especially in West Papua, which is experiencing accelerated demographic and cultural shifts, and forced assimilation.

Concerns were also directed at the Special Autonomy Law for Papua, implemented in 2001 and revised in 2021. Designed to empower indigenous Papuans through increased autonomy funding and revenue sharing, the law has faced criticism and opposition from the indigenous community itself. Experts argue that the law centralizes authority, exacerbates poverty, and leads to increased persecution and displacement of Papuan indigenous peoples.

The backdrop to these issues is the controversial 1969 Act of Free Choice, where a selected group of Papuans voted to integrate West Papua into Indonesia, a move that has been disputed as unrepresentative and violating Papuan civil and political rights.

The call by UN experts for formal recognition and collaboration with indigenous populations aims to address these deep-rooted issues and foster a true democratic spirit within Indonesia, preventing conflicts and ensuring the cultural and political rights of its indigenous citizens.