The Lombok Statement, made at: ICSF Workshop on ‘Customary institutions in Indonesia: Do they have a role in fisheries and coastal area management’, 2-5 August, Lombok.
Indonesia is an archipelago with deep historical roots in its maritime affairs and fisheries. The sea is seen by traditional fishing communities not just as a means of livelihood but as a way of life that accommodates the whole social arrangement of the society, its ethics and morals.
WE, representatives of adat law communities, traditional fishermen, coastal communities, women in fisheries, environmental and other civil society organizations, and academe, who attended the workshop on “Customary Institutions in Indonesia: Do They Have A Role In Fisheries and Coastal Area Management?” from 2 – 5 August 2009, in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, believe that adat law and traditional knowledge make significant contributions to the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, and the sustainability of marine and fisheries resources, as well as environmental sustainability.
WE have demonstrated that adat law, in existence since the 16th century, and traditional knowledge can make a significant contribution towards providing a just and sustainable marine and fisheries resources management regime. We believe that strengthening the social and cultural capital of adat law communities, traditional fishermen, women in fisheries, and coastal communities can assist in managing marine and fisheries resources, and be instrumental in addressing the multi-dimensional crisis currently faced by fisheries, and marine and coastal ecosystems.
WE believe that marine and coastal resources management regimes should uphold environmental sustainability and social justice and gender equality, especially of marginalized members of coastal communities, including poor widows, neglected children, the disabled and the permanently ill.
WE have discussed the root causes that adversely impact the livelihood of adat law communities, traditional fishermen and coastal communities. We have united and corroborate our voices to:
First, reversing the practice of privatization, monopolization and liberalization of marine and coastal resources, as, for example, in provisions contained in Law No. 27, 2007, on Coastal Area and Small Islands Management, especially the provisions regarding the issue of Coastal Waters Utilization License (Hak Pengusahaan Perairan Pesisir – HP3), as well as Regulation No. 5 of 2008 issued by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, which has now been revised and reissued as Regulation No. 12 of 2009, on Capture Fisheries, especially its provisions for Cluster Fisheries. It is better to grant priority to the Constitutional rights of adat law communities and to harmonize them with the universal principles guaranteed in the 1945 Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as Law No. 39, 2009, on Human Rights.
Second, in urging prioritization of the interests of adat law institutions above the interests of investors and international conservation organizations, through the creation of an Adat Institution Communication Forum.
In this context, we are seeking strengthening of adat law institutions, especially through constitutional recognition of the adat law institutions in marine and fisheries resources management, and through undertaking documentation and giving due publicity to adapt law institutions.
0 Comments