Indonesia has a vision for a new capital city called Nusantara. The IKN project sets to erect an advanced, urban city to provide housing and opportunities for its citizens… but at what cost? Despite governmental plans for sustainable development, the reality consists of environmental exploitation, and displacement of indigenous peoples, like the Balik community.
As the project demands more land and natural resources, Balik indigenous land is the target for these demands. Customary law that is supposed to reserve these regions are undone by coercive land acquisition tactics that natives are unequipped to fight. As these communities are displaced, they are not properly compensated for their sacrifice. Deforestation, logging, plant extractions, and plans for a dam depletes the ecosystem that provides culture, shelter, and the livelihoods of these people.
The IKN project has proved to be an injustice to this population and the environment. This displays a longstanding history of oppression and exploitation for the interests of the government. They do not heed warnings or pleas from indigenous peoples, or those advocating for sustainable development. Rather, they chose the quickest routes to achieve their own visions in the name of progress. Lack of enforcement for land barriers, illegal extractions, and extraction limits shows little concern for the lives they are affecting, let alone the deteriorating ecosystem.
The linked article emphasizes Balik indigenous women, and how they are most affected by these plans. In their community, they are the heads of land management and decision-making. However, laws regarding the IKN project fail to specify any place or voice they have regarding development. This not only perpetuates the disregard for indigenous voices, but bears an heir of sexism. It calls for clearer legislation that secures the land, and political rights of indigenous peoples, especially those led by women.
This dilemma reflects what is seen worldwide, and throughout history. Environmental sustainability and native peoples are disregarded for the land that they stand on. Governments and corporations place their visions above all else, believing that their interests are for the benefit of all. Ironically, a project that preaches the pursuit of progress perpetuates systems of oppression and environmental destruction, that exemplifies an ideological regression.