Babaro Challenges IKN Policies for Local Communities

Stevanus Babaro (to the left of the reader, wearing a traditional Dayak headdress.) advocates Dayak rights amid IKN development. Photo Credit: Detikborneo/Paran Sakiu.

By Apen Panlelugen 

Stevanus Febyan Babaro is a young Dayak leader from West Kalimantan who advocates for indigenous rights amid the IKN development. His work emphasizes that Borneo’s natural beauty and cultural landscapes must be protected alongside the rights and agency of local communities.

In the dense rainforests and winding rivers of West Kalimantan, longhouses rise along the banks of the Kapuas, Barito, Mahakam, and Ketungau. A young Dayak leader is making waves far beyond the traditional territories he calls home.

Stevanus Febyan Babaro is not just any advocate. He is a voice for the people whose lands are at the intersection of national development and global curiosity.

A landmark Voice from West Kalimantan

Recently, Babaro brought a landmark challenge to the Mahkamah Konstitusi (Constitutional Court), questioning provisions in the Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) development law that allowed investors to hold land rights for excessively long periods. 

“We cannot allow policies that hand over our ancestral lands for decades, ignoring both local rights and the future generations,” Babaro said in an interview. “Tourists may enjoy the beauty of our rivers and forests, but they must understand that these are living lands, stewarded by communities with deep histories.”

Babaro’s activism highlights an essential truth: the true appeal of Borneo, with its lush forests, diverse wildlife, and vibrant cultural landscapes, cannot be separated from the rights, voices, and stewardship of the communities who call the island home. Without respecting these local custodians, the very essence of Borneo’s beauty risks being diminished.

His campaign is part of a larger movement, calling on both policymakers and travelers to recognize the human dimensions that shape the island’s natural wonders. It emphasizes that sustainable tourism and development must go hand in hand with protecting community rights and preserving cultural heritage.

Challenging IKN: Legal Battles for Land Justice

Babaro’s legal challenge was registered under number 185/PUU-XXII/2024. At stake was more than a technicality: it was about justice, equity, and the recognition of indigenous land rights. The Constitutional Court sided with Babaro, limiting land tenure in IKN according to the national agrarian law (UUPA) and rejecting excessively long terms for investors.

“This ruling is a reminder that development must respect the people whose lives and cultures are intertwined with the land,” said Syamsul Jahidin, Babaro’s legal counsel. “It ensures that progress does not come at the expense of justice and sustainability.”

The lawsuit was filed out of concern that granting land rights (HAT) for up to 180 years could create disparities in land ownership, violate agrarian justice principles, disregard the rights of local communities and customary lands, and undermine legal certainty in national land governance. Stevanus emphasized that land management in IKN must be truly fair, transparent, and in accordance with constitutional mandates. For this reason, he brought the case before the Constitutional Court.

The Constitutional Court granted the petition. In its decision, the Court ruled that the provision allowing investors to hold HAT for up to 180 years in the IKN area is unconstitutional, as it conflicts with the principle of state control over land and territory.

As a result, all HAT regulations in IKN now revert to the provisions of the Basic Agrarian Law (UUPA), which sets the national maximum land tenure at 35 years.

For travelers, the implications are equally profound. Areas surrounding IKN, from cultural villages to natural reserves, are more likely to remain intact, culturally vibrant, and ecologically sustainable, allowing tourism to support communities rather than displace them. Babaro’s success demonstrates that legal advocacy and responsible tourism can converge to protect both people and place.

Tourism as a Platform for Local Empowerment

Across Borneo, community-based tourism offers a tangible model for this vision. Longhouse homestays, guided river tours, and cultural festivals allow visitors to experience local life while empowering residents economically and culturally. Babaro emphasizes that tourism should be more than a visual spectacle: it should reinforce local decision-making and preserve traditions.

In areas such as the Kapuas Hulu and Sekadau, villages have opened doors to travelers, offering workshops on weaving, traditional medicine, and Dayak culinary heritage. These initiatives not only provide livelihoods but also position local communities as custodians of their culture. Babaro points out, “Every visitor is a witness to our culture. How they engage matters. Tourism must be a partnership, not a transaction that leaves communities marginalized.”

For BorneoTravel.id readers, this means choosing tours that respect local governance and support sustainable practices, ensuring that every journey contributes to the resilience of communities rather than undermining it.

From Forests to Forums: Shaping Borneo’s Future

Babaro’s activism signals a generational shift: the Dayak are moving from the forests and rivers—traditional arenas of livelihood and defense—into courtrooms, policy debates, and academic forums. He encourages young leaders to master the tools of law, governance, and media to protect their communities and influence development on their terms.

“In the past, our battles were fought with axes and boats. Today, they are fought with knowledge, legal skill, and strategy,” Babaro explains. “If tourism, investment, and infrastructure projects are to thrive in Borneo, they must include the people whose lands and lives are affected.”

This shift has direct consequences for travel. Guests who participate in community-led programs, attend cultural workshops, or support eco-lodges are not simply sightseeing; they are engaging with the living, breathing cultures that sustain Borneo’s landscapes. Babaro’s vision underscores the principle that sustainable tourism is inseparable from justice and human dignity.

Tourism, Rights, and Responsibility

The Bornean experience, as Babaro frames it, is about more than rivers, forests, and orangutans. It is about engaging responsibly with communities that have protected these lands for generations. His legal victories and advocacy remind travelers that every journey has ethical dimensions: supporting local rights enhances the authenticity and sustainability of tourism.

As development accelerates near IKN and other urban hubs, Babaro’s work ensures that Borneo’s tourism economy grows without silencing the voices of those who have long called the island home. His story is a call to action for travelers and policymakers alike: the future of Borneo’s landscapes, cultures, and communities depends on partnership, respect, and accountability.

For visitors, this means that Borneo is more than a destination; it is a conversation between land, culture, and the people who defend both. By listening, learning, and choosing experiences that honor local rights, tourists can play a meaningful role in the island’s journey toward sustainable development.