Conflicts over Customary Rights of Indigenous Communities in The National Capital City Development Project
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51601/ijse.v6i1.346Abstract
This study examines agrarian conflicts in the development of the Indonesian National Capital (IKN) in East Kalimantan, with a focus on the customary rights of indigenous peoples. Normatively, Article 18B paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution and Article 3 of the UUPA have provided recognition to indigenous peoples and their customary rights. However, the implementation of this recognition has not been effective. Dependence on administrative recognition through Regional Regulations (Perda), lengthy mechanisms for proving customary rights, and the paradigm of accelerated development have led to marginalization, loss of living space, and legal uncertainty. This study uses normative legal methods with a statutory, conceptual, and case approach and is analyzed through the Theory of Recognition and the Theory of Development Law. The results indicate that although the national legal framework has regulated customary rights, the practice of IKN development still places these rights as administratively conditional rights. The absence of a Perda recognizing customary communities means that customary land that has not been formally designated is treated as state land. AMAN data from 2025 recorded 110 agrarian conflicts, including the Balik Sepaku, Balik Pemaluan, and Paser Maridan cases, demonstrating the disharmony between legal norms and their implementation. Therefore, a structural and paradigmatic transformation of agrarian law is needed through the ratification of the Customary Law Communities Law, accelerated regional regulation formation, and participatory mapping of customary territories.
Downloads
References
[1] Amarta Putra, A., & Azhar, F. (2024). Respecting local wisdom by integrating customary rights of indigenous communities into sustainable development and conservation strategies. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 243–253. https://doi.org/10.572349/kultura.v2i6.156
[2] Ayunda, I. (2025). Indigenous communities in North Penajam Paser displaced by the construction of the IKN. Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago. https://www.aman.or.id/story/masyarakat-adat-di-penajam-paser-utara-tergusur-oleh-pembangunan-ikn
[3] Candra, DM, & Yustika, L. (2020). Legal protection for landowners regarding land acquisition affected by procurement for public interest (Case study of Decision No. 593/Pdt.G/2018/PN.Tng). JCA of Law, 1(1), 71–80. https://jca.esaunggul.ac.id/index.php/law/article/download/8/8
[4] Citra Ramadhan, M. (2021). Legal research methods (I. Mujtaba, Ed.; 1st ed., pp. 83–90). Kaizen Educational Facilities.
[5] Devinta, L., & Rofiq Addiansyah, MN (2024). The politics of marginalizing indigenous communities behind the development of the Indonesian Capital City. Indonesian Society Journal, 50(2). https://doi.org/10.55981/jmi.2024.8845
[6] Fathya, S. (2025). IKN and agrarian issues: Between national interests and the rights of indigenous peoples. Kompasiana. https://www.kompasiana.com/sitifathya9262/68e4694f34777c7519100962
[7] Fitriyah, A., & Mawalia, K. Al. (2024). UNAIR experts highlight the risk of conflict over the displacement of indigenous peoples in the IKN. Unairnews. https://unair.ac.id/pakar-unair-soroti-risiko-konflik-pemindahan-masyarakat-adat-di-ikn/
[8] Hajazi, M., Setiawan, D., & Pesulima, JFM (2025). AMAN National Working Meeting Dialogue: Revealing the wounds of indigenous peoples behind the development of the IKN. Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago. https://aman.or.id/news/read/2062
[9] Maiyestati. (2023). Agrarian law (p. 50). LPPM Bung Hatta University.
[10] Muhaimin. (2020). Legal research methods (F. Hijriyanti, Ed., p. 59). Mataram University Press.
[11] Regulation of the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency Number 10 of 2016 concerning Procedures for Determining Communal Rights to Land of Customary Law Communities and Communities in Certain Areas (2016).
[12] Regulation of the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of BPN Number 14 of 2024 concerning the Implementation of Land Administration and Registration of Customary Land Rights of Customary Law Communities (2024).
[13] Government Regulation Number 18 of 2021 concerning Management Rights, Land Rights, Apartment Units, and Land Registration (2021).
[14] Pribadiono, A. (2016). Traditional village institutions in village development according to Law No. 6 of 2014: Between independence and regulatory subordination. Lex Jurnalica, 13(1), 10–20. https://ejurnal.esaunggul.ac.id/index.php/Lex/article/download/1320/1203
[15] Puspa Sari, D. (2023). Protection and welfare of indigenous peoples in fulfilling their rights based on Article 18B of the 1945 Constitution. Wara Sains Journal of Law and Human Rights, 02(11), 1006–1016.
[16] Putri Sari Sunari Wangi, NK, Dantes, KF, & Sudiatmaka, K. (2023). Legal analysis of customary rights to customary land ownership based on Law Number 5 of 1960. Journal of Sui Generis Law, 3, 2809–3925.
[17] Constitutional Court Decision Number 35/PUU-X/2012 (16 May 2012). https://www.mkri.id/public/content/persidangan/sinopsis/ikhtisar_1047_1271_35-PUU-X-2012-ok.pdf
[18] Setyowati, RK (2023). State recognition of customary law communities. Binamulia Hukum, 12(1), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.37893/jbh.v12i1.601
[19] Saidah, A., & Handayani, W. (2025). Protection of indigenous peoples' land rights within the framework of the UUPA. Al-Zyan: Journal of Social Sciences & Law, 3. https://doi.org/10.61104/alz.v3i5.2330
[20] Sedayu, A. (2025). The grim story of the Balik Tribe crushed by the construction of the IKN. Tempo.co. https://www.tempo.co/ekonomi/kisah-muram-suku-balik-yang-terlindas-pembangunan-ikn-1231875
[21] Simanjuntak, JV, et al. (2024). The potential of the Indonesian Capital City (IKN) as a catalyst for economic equality in Indonesia. JURNALKU, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.54957/jurnalku.v4i3.801
[22] Shohib, M. (2018). Time limits on land registration in providing legal protection for the community. Lex Jurnalica, 15(1), 8–18. https://ejurnal.esaunggul.ac.id/index.php/Lex/article/download/2290/1977
[23] Solikin, N. (2021). Introduction to legal research methodology (p. 58). CV Publisher Qiara Media.
[24] Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages (2014).
[25] Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 (2023).
[26] Law Number 21 of 2023 concerning Amendments to Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the National Capital (2023).
[27] Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management (2009).
[28] Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry (1999).
[29] Walny Rahayu, S., et al. (2018). Dynamics of customary law: Contribution of thought towards the development of customary law in Indonesia. Bandar Publishing.
[30] Zakka Arrizal, N., et al. (2023). Strengthening the existence of customary law communities amidst the current of post-industrial era globalization. Supremacy of Law, 19. https://doi.org/10.33592/jsh.v19i1.3303
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nina Sri Mulyani, Rita Alfiana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
