Palu, November 2025, AP2SI Central Sulawesi together with WALHI Central Sulawesi, Participatory Mapping Service Node (SLPP) Central Sulawesi and BRWA Central Sulawesi held a Workshop with the Wanua Watutau Customary Law Community (MHA) of Poso Regency.
The workshop, titled "Preparing a Profile Document for the MHA Wanua Watutau," was attended by approximately 25 people, including representatives from the Traditional Institution, the Watutau Village Government, women's representatives, and several other community leaders. Held at the Watutau Village Hall, the event lasted two days (Monday-Tuesday, November 17-18, 2025). Administratively, the MHA Wanua Watutau located in Watutau Village, Lore Peore District, Poso Regency.
Chairman of AP2SI Central Sulawesi Hamdan (49), said in his speech that "“We carried out this workshop with the aim of formulating the basis for arguments regarding the urgency of recognizing and protecting the Wanua Watutau MHA.”". Normatively, several laws and regulations have mandated the recognition and protection of Indigenous Legal Communities, although their implementation has not been as expected. Article 18B of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (UUD 1945), as a result of the first amendment to the 1945 Constitution, states that "“The state recognizes and respects customary law community units and their traditional rights as long as they are still alive and in accordance with the development of society and the principles of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, as regulated in the Law..'' The provisions of Article 18B of the 1945 Constitution are strengthened by the provisions of Article 28I paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution that "’Cultural identities and traditional communities are respected in line with the development of the times and civilization.”.
There is no recognition of MHA Wanua Watutau Until today, this has also been confirmed by WALHI Central Sulawesi. Bonar (39), Head of the WALHI Central Sulawesi Organization Department as facilitator for this activity said that "“Official recognition by the local government for indigenous communities in Poso Regency remains a serious issue, due to the lack of a legal basis, such as a regional regulation on the recognition and protection of indigenous peoples. However, this should not be used as an excuse for the Wanua Watutau and other indigenous communities not to prepare their recognition documents. In 2025, WALHI Central Sulawesi, along with several CSOs under KARAMHA, are overseeing the ratification of the Draft Regional Regulation on the Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Peoples in Central Sulawesi Province. I believe this could be a solution for indigenous peoples in Poso Regency.
Data from the Customary Territory Registration Agency (BRWA) noted that by 2023 there were 89 indigenous communities in Central Sulawesi. Ironically, 961 TP3T of them do not have adequate legal protection, whether through Regional Regulations, Regent Regulations, or Regent Decrees. Without strong regulations, indigenous communities not only lose their rights to their ancestral lands but also face the threat of criminalization and eviction. Numerous cases demonstrate that indigenous communities fighting for their land are criminalized, while the exploitation of natural resources by large companies continues without regard for indigenous rights.
Since 2022, the Land Bank Agency has claimed the former HGU area of PT. Sandabi Indah Lestari as a Management Right (HPL) covering 6,648 hectares, encompassing five villages. One of these is Watutau Village, Lore Peore District, Poso Regency, which has long been inhabited by indigenous peoples (MHA). Wanua Watutau. Community leaders in Watutau Village are very concerned about the presence of the Land Bank Agency in Poso Regency which does not recognize the existence of MHA Wanua Watutau. Christian Toibo (40) convey "“"We, as indigenous people in the Tampo Lore region, deeply regret the statement from the Land Bank Agency, which stated in its report that it found no indigenous community elements. We fear this could be used as an excuse by the state to seize our customary lands.".
In the process, this workshop activity succeeded in identifying and formulating 5 elements of MHA Wanua Watutau which consist of First History of Customary Law Communities, Second Customary Territory, Third Customary law, Fourth Wealth and/or traditional objects and Fifth Customary Institutions based on Home Affairs Ministerial Regulation No. 52 of 2014 concerning Guidelines for the Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Legal Communities.
For customary areas, Wanua Watutau has an area of 29,823 Ha, this was confirmed by the Central Sulawesi SLPP. Agus Suleman (39), the Coordinator of the Central Sulawesi SLPP said that “"The participatory mapping that we conducted with the MHA Wanua Watutau identified a total area of 29,823 hectares of customary territory divided into spatial patterns such as Wana ngkiri, Wana, Pandulu, Holua, Lambara, boya and many more.".
The results of this workshop formulation will be used as material for the MHA Proposal Document. Wanua Watutau which is planned to be given to the Poso Regency Regional Government to accelerate recognition and protection.
News source: https://walhisulteng.org/perkuat-hak-ulayat-mha-wanua-watutau-gelar-lokakarya/
Contact person: BN
