From the 21st to 24th of October 2025, The Directorate General of the Indigenous People and Local Beliefs (KMA), the Ministry of Culture, and the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, and Migration (CHRM2) of the University of Jember visited Sihaporas Indigenous People in Simalungun District of North Sumatra. During the visit, the team met with several community leaders, representatives of civil society organisations, the head of district attorney of Simalungun – Erfan Hergianto, and the head of Human Rights Office Branch of North Sumatra -Dr. Flora Nainggolan.
The visit is part of the advocacy work conducted by KMA of the Ministry of Culture as a response of the clash between Sihaporas Indigenous People and the Toba Pulp Lestari Corporation (PT TPL). On September 22nd, 2025, TPL attacked several houses owned by Sihaporas Indigenous People resulting in the destruction and burning of several properties including houses, scooters, and a truck. Since then, the TPL company restricted Sihaporas peoples’ access to the land under their control due to the overlapping claim to land rights between the Sihaporas community and the TPL Company.
Since its operation in 1992, the TPL company has been granted the right to cultivate around 167.000 hectares of lands. Out of the 167.000 hectares, much of PT TPL’s land overlaps with customary areas which has led to a prolonged conflict with indigenous peoples in North Sumatra. Sihaporas is one of the indigenous peoples that lost 1500 hectares and still could not reclaim their lands since the beginning of TPL’s operations.
The September 22nd 2025 attack is one of a series of acts of persecution taken against indigenous communities by TPL. After the attack, the Sihaporas indigenous people are in danger of food insecurity because they can no longer access their farm lands. Additionally, they also cannot undertake rituals because some sacred sites are within the disputed land controlled by TPL.
KMA as the representation of the Central Government is committed to resolve the conflict by inviting ministries, such as the Forestry Ministry, Interior Ministry, and the Ministry of Investment, to intervene. KMA also plans to invite the local government of Simalungun, the community leader of Sihaporas, and representatives from TPL to discuss the issue.