DPD RI Pushes Archipelagic Regions Bill to Strengthen Connectivity and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

02 October 2026 oleh admin

Sorong, dpd.go.id — The Working Team for the Bill on Archipelagic Regions (RUU Daerah Kepulauan) of the House Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) is calling for stronger inter-island connectivity and greater protection of indigenous peoples’ rights in the drafting of the Archipelagic Regions Bill.

Both aspects are considered essential to ensuring that development and the management of resources in archipelagic regions deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

Chair of the DPD RI Working Team for the Archipelagic Regions Bill, Andi Sofyan Hasdam, said Indonesia’s geographical characteristics as an archipelagic country present challenges in development, inter-island connectivity, public services, and the management of marine resources. Therefore, regulations are needed that can accommodate the unique characteristics and needs of archipelagic regions.

“The Archipelagic Regions Bill is expected to provide a legal foundation for more comprehensive regulation of development and the welfare of communities in archipelagic regions,” Andi said during the Working Team’s visit to Sorong, Southwest Papua, on Friday (Oct. 2).

Echoing this view, Vice Chair of the DPD RI Working Team for the Archipelagic Regions Bill, Muhdi, emphasized that the distinctive characteristics of archipelagic regions require asymmetric and special policies. He said such an approach is necessary to ensure equitable development and ultimately improve community welfare.

“The key is asymmetry and lex specialis. Without both, it will be difficult to achieve justice,” Muhdi stressed.

Meanwhile, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sorong, Sakti Rakia, said that strengthening connectivity must go hand in hand with protecting indigenous communities. Indigenous peoples, he argued, should not merely be beneficiaries but should also be directly involved in managing regional resources.

“Indigenous communities should act directly as owners and managers of assets through co-management, rather than merely becoming spectators or low-skilled laborers,” Sakti said.

He also emphasized the importance of connectivity in supporting the distribution of goods, basic services, and economic development for island communities. According to him, the Archipelagic Regions Bill needs to regulate inter-island distribution systems, transportation subsidies, healthcare services, internet access, as well as energy and water infrastructure for small islands.

The DPD RI Working Team for the Archipelagic Regions Bill considers connectivity, public services, regional authority, and the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights to be interconnected elements that should be addressed within the bill. Regulations that better reflect the characteristics of archipelagic regions are expected to expand public access, optimize regional potential, and promote more equitable prosperity.