Indigenous Concerns and Land Struggles Surround Indonesia's New Capital Plan

Indonesia's plan to build a new capital city in East Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo, is causing concern among Indigenous peoples who fear they will be pushed out of their land. The Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance of Nusantara estimates that at least 20,000 Indigenous people will be relocated as construction on the new city progresses. Advocacy groups say one of the main challenges for Indigenous people is proving land ownership to secure compensation. The government has promoted initiatives like training programmes for locals as representative of the benefits the new capital development will offer people in East Kalimantan.