Bob Hasan Pushes Indigenous Consent for Mining in Papua West

Legislator Bob Hasan, chair of the DPR’s Legislative Body, visited the governor’s office in Manokwari on 5 August 2026 to discuss a draft law on indigenous peoples. He stressed that forests designated as customary lands belong to indigenous communities and that any mining or other natural‑resource project must obtain explicit permission from those communities, not merely provide financial compensation. Hasan cited the existing Mineral and Coal Mining Law (Minerba) as a basis for embedding consent requirements in the forthcoming indigenous‑rights bill.

West Papua Vice‑Governor Mohamad Lakotani Sirua echoed the call for formal legal mechanisms to manage natural‑resource exploitation, arguing that proper licensing and benefit‑sharing are essential for regional development and the welfare of indigenous peoples.