TakI Unloads The Roots Of Problems 11 Residents Of Maba Sangaji I In North Maluku: Not Weapons, But Traditional Land

TERNATE - North Maluku Governor Sherly Tjoanda is considered to have delivered a misleading statement and kept away the main problems related to 11 indigenous residents of Maba Sangaji who are currently undergoing trial at the Soasio District Court.

On September 1, 2025, elements of society, students, and residents staged an action in Ternate to highlight allegations of criminalization of 11 indigenous residents. On that occasion, Sherly said there was evidence of a trial that upheld allegations of possession of sharp weapons, burning police cars, and confiscation.

"We regret it, but the facts of the trial prove that there was a sharp device being carried, there was a burning of a police car, and there was a seizure. We are looking for a way to provide support to the wife and children of eleven prisoners," said Sherly, as quoted from the Halmaherapost video.

For the Anti-Criminalization Advocacy Team (TAKI), the words were wrong. In fact, according to them, the Governor repeatedly repeated it to the public as if it had become the truth of the law.

The Facts Of The Trial Did Not Support The Accusations

Until the third trial, not a single fact witness from the Public Prosecutor was able to prove the indictment of Article 368 of the Criminal Code, Article 162 of the Minerba Law, or Article 2 paragraph (1) of the Emergency Law.

"There is no strong evidence linking the residents to the allegations. What the Governor said clearly did not match the facts of the trial," said Wetub Toatubun of TAKI in a statement received in Jakarta, Thursday, September 4.

Lukman Harun, a member of the advocacy team, considered Sherly's comments dangerous because he led public opinion that residents had been proven guilty. "The governor should have understood his position as an executive, not commenting on the judiciary realm. The remarks actually seemed to defend nickel mining corporations and get rid of indigenous peoples," he said.

Basic Problems: Land Confiscation And Traditional Forests

Agung Ilyas from TAKI emphasized that the root cause of the Maba Sangaji problem was the struggle of indigenous peoples to defend land, forests, and rivers from the expansion of nickel mining. "The problem is not just a matter of living the defendant's family, but a struggle for the living space of indigenous peoples," he said.

Therefore, TAKI demanded that Governor Sherly Tjoanda apologize and clarify his statement. They also urged the government to revoke the PT Position IUP and other permits deemed to have confiscated the traditional land of Maba Sangaji.

In addition, TAKI called for public solidarity to support the release of 11 residents of Maba Sangaji who are now facing trials at the Soasio District Court.