Opinion, Edarinfo.com– Indonesia, a nation of more than 17,000 islands, is not only rich in biodiversity but also in cultural diversity. Among its many indigenous peoples are the Batak communities of North Sumatra, who have inhabited the highlands surrounding Lake Toba for centuries. Their connection to the land is more than physical—it is spiritual, ancestral, and deeply rooted in their identity. Yet, in the modern era of industrialization and economic development, their very existence is being tested.
One of the most pressing examples of this is the ongoing conflict between indigenous Batak communities and PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL), a pulp and paper company that has operated in North Sumatra since the 1980s. Formerly known as Indorayon, the company has long been accused of environmental destruction, land grabbing, and the criminalization of indigenous land defenders.
The Land That Remembers
The Batak people, particularly from clans such as the Ompu Umbak Siallagan, Ambarita, Sihombing, Simanjuntak, and others, have repeatedly asserted their customary rights over lands that have been occupied or claimed by PT TPL. These lands are not just economic resources; they are sacred, tied to stories, rituals, and intergenerational survival.
For decades, the indigenous communities have asked the government to return their customary lands that were included—often without consent—within the company’s concession areas. Yet, despite legal reports, community maps, and peaceful protests, the response has often been repression.
Environmental and Social Impact
TPL’s operations have had long-term ecological consequences. Deforestation has led to soil erosion, damage to water sources, and loss of biodiversity. In some cases, traditional food sources and medicinal plants have disappeared. The chemical waste and monoculture plantations have altered the ecological balance of what was once a sustainable and diverse forest.
Socially, the impact is no less severe. There have been reported cases of intimidation, violence, and even arrests of indigenous defenders who protested or attempted to reclaim their land. This criminalization is part of a larger pattern in Indonesia where corporate interests are often protected over indigenous rights.
Legal and Moral Questions
While Indonesian law acknowledges the existence of masyarakat adat (indigenous peoples), formal recognition is still required at the local level for them to exercise their land rights. This bureaucratic barrier is frequently used to delegitimize their claims. Even when communities have won in court, implementation remains weak.
There is a moral crisis here: Whose development are we talking about? For whom is the forest cleared? For whom is the profit generated? And at what cost?
A Fight for Dignity and Future
The resistance of the Batak communities is not simply a matter of land ownership—it is about survival, dignity, and cultural continuity. They are not anti-development. What they resist is a model of development that excludes them, exploits their resources, and erases their heritage.
Their struggle mirrors that of many indigenous communities across Indonesia—from Papua to Kalimantan—who face the same threats from extractive industries, weak law enforcement, and a government that too often prioritizes economic growth over human rights.
Conclusion: Solidarity and Action
The case of PT TPL should serve as a national wake-up call. Indonesia cannot continue to proclaim itself a just and democratic society while turning a blind eye to the oppression of its indigenous peoples.
True development must be inclusive, respectful of indigenous sovereignty, and environmentally just. Recognizing and restoring customary lands is not an act of charity—it is an act of justice.
The Batak people are not fighting alone. Civil society, youth movements, and international organizations are beginning to speak up. But more voices are needed. The fight of the Batak is the fight for Indonesia’s soul—a struggle between exploitation and stewardship, between forgetting and remembering.
If we are to move forward as a nation, we must first learn to honor those who have guarded the land long before us.
Author: Fernando Simanjutak, SH (Pemuda Adat Tanoh Batak)