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JKLPK Advocacy Training for Maluku Region

The Maluku Region Christian Service Institution Network (JKLPK) together with the National Secretariat held Technical Training, Methods, and Policy Analysis on Natural Resources, Agrarian, and Climate Justice issues at the Youth Multipurpose Building of the Maluku Protestant Church, Ambon. The theme of the training departs from the struggles of the Christian Service Institutions (LPK) of JKLPK participants to see state policies on environmental issues that are not fully in favor of the community.


For example, policies related to extractive industries and large-scale plantations. Mining companies are still the mainstay of the state to extract revenue, as well as the palm oil industry. On the other hand, the impact of the presence of mining and palm oil is felt in some areas. Mining companies and the palm oil industry require large areas of land. As a result, conversion of agricultural land/rice fields is often unavoidable which results in the loss of livelihoods for the community and small farmers. In addition, the palm oil and mining industries are not air-friendly because they release large amounts of carbon.

Another example of policy is the Food Estate. In order to maintain food security, the government has created a Food Estate program, namely large-scale land clearing for food commodities that is integrated with plantations and livestock. Food Estate is located in several areas, such as North Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, and Papua. This policy is not correct. If the government is serious about food security, it should be strengthened by local farmers' crops, starting from upstream (access to land, seeds, fertilizers) to downstream (access to trade systems).

Seeing this problem, it is very important for JKLPK participants to increase their capacity to defend their right to life in the midst of various national and regional policies that do not favor them. The capacity is being able to identify and analyze local policies and understand and be able to carry out advocacy techniques and methods.

This training lasted for three days, from 27 to 29 September 2022 with facilitators Dian Yanuar and Syiqil Arofat from the Sayogyo Institute, Bogor. Apart from the Maluku Region, invited participants came from the Regions of West Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi and West Kalimantan. The training began with an opening service by Rev. Herce Atihuta from the GPM Synod with meditation on the words from the book of Jeremiah 29: 7.

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