“Lawmakers seek rights probe into Indigenous conflict at Indonesian timber firm”, 9 July 2026

Indonesian lawmakers have called for a government fact-finding probe into a long-running conflict between … [Dayak Kualan] Indigenous community .. and … industrial timber company [PT Mayawana Persada] … [after] a parliamentary hearing, [where the] testimony … strengthened indications of alleged structural and systematic human rights violations …

… Indonesia’s Ministry of Human Rights said it would … investigate allegations of human rights violations linked to the conflict …

The Dayak Kualan community alleges the company’s concession overlaps with its customary lands and forests, and … clear[ed] the area without obtaining its meaningful consent.

… community members agreed to relinquish their land … under pressure and received only 1.5 million rupiah (about $83) per hectare …

The community says some of the cleared areas included sacred sites …

“Accordingly, we imposed customary sanctions [on the company] … none of those obligations has been fulfilled.”

… the company’s actions showed little respect for the community’s customary laws … [and] the … intimidation experienced by the community … [was] excessive …

Mayawana did not respond to requests for comment by publication.

… members of the Dayak Kualan community have also faced … criminal cases … describe[d] as retaliation for resisting Mayawana’s operations … involv[ing] … the son of a customary leader … [and] the customary chief of Lelayang hamlet …

The conflict has unfolded alongside one of Indonesia’s largest recent episodes of forest loss …

Much of the clearing took place on peatlands, … releas[ing] CO2 … [and] becoming far more susceptible to fire[,] … [and] overlaps habitat for … critically endangered great ape … including protected peat ecosystem.

“… When customary cemeteries are destroyed, [the company is] … also taking away an essential part of the identity of Indigenous communities.”

… “There is no reason not to evaluate Mayawana … including deforestation, degraded peatlands, river pollution, biodiversity loss and other environmental impacts.” …