In Indonesia, environmental degradation is frequently framed as either a natural disaster or an inherent and unavoidable consequence of technical development processes.This obscures the more complex and troubling truth. The majority of environmental destruction currently afflicting the country is not the result of natural forces but rather the direct consequence of exploitative economic policies, systematic collusion between state authorities and corporate interests, and pervasive legal impunity.
The prevailing narrative thus perpetuates a dangerous misperception, diverting attention from the root causes of ecological harm and downplaying the human responsibility behind it.
This phenomenon is best understood as ecocide, a term that refers to the intentional and large-scale destruction of ecosystems. This has severe consequences for human populations, particularly for those who are already socioeconomically vulnerable, such as indigenous communities and low-income groups.
The destruction of natural resources, the displacement of local populations, and the degradation of land and water resources impact these marginalised communities disproportionately, worsening existing socioeconomic inequalities and threatening their very survival.
The environment and human rights
Ecocide should not be viewed merely as an emotional or moral indictment but as a clear violation of human rights. This is grounded not only in ethical considerations but also in legal frameworks that recognise the fundamental rights of individuals and communities to the right to life and a healthy environment.
In the face of the ongoing and escalating ecological crisis, it is crucial that the destruction of the environment is recognised as a violation of human rights, and that legal mechanisms are employed to hold accountable those responsible for the systemic violence against nature.
The nexus between ecocide and human rights violations
Ecological degradation does not merely constitute an environmental concern but is intrinsically linked to the violation of fundamental human rights. Within the framework of international law, the right to life, enshrined in Article 6 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, obligates all state and non-state actors to uphold and protect life in all its dimensions. Environmental pollution, which contaminates essential natural resources such as clean water and arable soil, directly threatens human survival and well-being.
Furthermore, the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as stipulated in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, is compromised when environmental harm results in exposure to pollutants, toxic waste, and other hazardous materials, thereby endangering the health of affected communities.
The rights of indigenous peoples, as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of indigenous peoples, include the right to maintain cultural, spiritual, and material relationships with their ancestral lands.
For many indigenous communities, land is not merely a physical space but a living entity imbued with spiritual significance, traditional ecological knowledge, sacred sites, and medicinal resources. The destruction of such environments thus represents not only an environmental loss but also an existential threat to indigenous identities, knowledge practices, and ways of life.
Given these multi-dimensional impacts, ecological destruction, particularly when systemic, large-scale, or intentional, should be recognised as a violation of human rights. Emerging legal and standardising frameworks increasingly identify acts of ecocide as crimes that undermine human dignity, disrupt cultural continuity, and erode the conditions necessary for life itself.
Ecocide in the Indonesian Context
Deforestation and land grabbing are two of the most pressing issues associated with ecocide practices in Indonesia.
In the 1950s, approximately 87% of Indonesia’s total land area was covered by dense tropical forests, which served not only as a habitat for biodiversity but also as a vital living space for indigenous and local communities who had stewarded these ecosystems for generations.
However, the current state of Indonesian forests is alarming, with the remaining forest cover now reduced to approximately 49%. This dramatic decline can be attributed to various industrial activities that prioritise short-term profit accumulation over ecological sustainability, including land clearing for oil palm plantations, mining, illegal logging, and infrastructure development.
Despite the existence of regulatory frameworks such as Law No. 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry, Law No. 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, and Law No. 27 of 2007 in conjunction with Law No. 1 of 2014 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, these regulations are often disregarded by both state and corporate actors.
One notable example of such ecocide practices is the mining operation by PT Batu Licin Beton Asphalt on Kei Besar Island, located in Southeast Maluku Regency, Maluku Province, eastern Indonesia. The island spans an area of approximately 550 km² (340 miles) but has been used as a mining site, which directly contravenes Law No. 1 of 2014. This legislation explicitly prohibits mining activities in areas with a land area of less than 2,000 km².
As a result of these mining activities, significant environmental degradation occurred, culminating in severe flooding that affected at least 11 villages. This ecological destruction has had profound implications for the affected communities, particularly in terms of compromised health, the right to clean water, and overall safety.
A similar situation can be observed in Papua, where indigenous communities have been displaced to make way for nickel mining by PT Anugerah Tambang Industri (ATI) and PT Gag Nikel. While these companies have obtained permits from the central government in Jakarta, their mining operations have displaced indigenous populations and ignored the environmental degradation resulting from their activities. The loss of land and resources has undermined the rights of indigenous peoples, further exacerbating their vulnerability and disrupting their way of life.
These examples are not isolated incidents. Similar cases of ecocide have been reported in other parts of Indonesia, including Kalimantan and North Maluku, where indigenous peoples continue to experience the negative consequences of industrial practices.
The violations of human rights in these contexts include violations of the right to life, the right to health, and the rights of indigenous peoples, all of which are enshrined in the Indonesian Constitution.
Article 28I of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia explicitly guarantees the right to a healthy environment and the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, affirming that the state is responsible for ensuring that development is carried out in a manner that respects human dignity and ecological sustainability.
International human rights instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, also safeguard these fundamental rights.
The Challenges of Addressing Ecocide in Indonesia
One of the most pressing challenges in addressing ecocide in Indonesia lies in the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, particularly for corporate actors. While Indonesia has established a range of legal frameworks aimed at protecting the environment, the application of these laws often faces significant institutional and political obstacles.
A core issue is the entanglement between corporate interests and political elites, which undermines regulatory enforcement. It is not uncommon to find affiliations or patronage networks linking corporate owners with state officials at both the national and regional levels.
These connections frequently influence the issuance of permits, weaken oversight mechanisms, and foster a culture of impunity regarding environmental violations. This situation is exacerbated by the prevalence of corruption and collusion among government stakeholders. Numerous cases have emerged in which governors, regents, or mayors are implicated in corrupt practices involving mining concessions, palm oil expansion, and deforestation.
The state, ideally positioned as a neutral arbiter and protector of the public interest, often fails to uphold its regulatory mandate. Instead, it is sometimes complicit in environmental harm, either through inaction or direct involvement in exploitative ventures.
For Indonesia to address ecocide seriously, the government must prioritise the protection of ecological systems and the rights of local communities over the interests of capital. This requires strengthening institutional accountability, ensuring the independence of environmental oversight bodies, and prosecuting ecological crimes with equal vigour regardless of the perpetrator’s sociopolitical standing.
Without such structural reforms, legal provisions will remain symbolic, and the cycle of environmental harm, driven by profit and facilitated by political complicity, will persist unchecked.
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