Contradictions in IKN Development

The development of Indonesia's new capital, Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), in East Kalimantan has sparked growing controversy, particularly concerning the forced eviction of Indigenous communities from their ancestral lands. This policy has become even more questionable following the government's announcement to grant land in IKN to foreign nations for diplomatic compounds—free of charge. This decision creates a stark irony: while Indigenous communities lose their rights to their land, foreign nations benefit from government policies.


Colonialism and the Displacement of Indigenous Communities

In their study, Bonita Lawrence and Enakshi Dua (2005) argue that colonialism is not only about economic exploitation but also the erasure of Indigenous rights through state policies. They explain that global capitalism often reinforces internal colonialism, where governments sacrifice Indigenous communities for development projects that benefit political and economic elites. This phenomenon is evident in IKN: Indigenous peoples, who have preserved ecological balance on their lands for centuries, are now being displaced in the name of progress.

The government claims that relocating the capital aims to alleviate Jakarta’s burden and create a modern, sustainable governance center. However, in practice, Indigenous communities who have lived in these areas for generations are facing displacement without fair compensation. As Lawrence and Dua highlight, such policies reflect a pattern of internal colonialism, where Indigenous rights are ignored in favor of state and corporate interests.


Social Conflicts in IKN and the Interests of Global Capital

The social conflicts surrounding IKN’s development are deeply tied to unequal access to land and resources. Many Indigenous communities resist eviction, while others accept it due to a lack of alternatives. In similar cases worldwide, forced evictions of Indigenous peoples often lead to systemic poverty and cultural marginalization.

Meanwhile, the government is facilitating foreign nations to establish diplomatic compounds within IKN. This decision appears contradictory, as the same land claimed for national interests is now being handed over to foreign entities free of charge. If the land is strategically valuable for national development, why is it being given away? This move highlights how global capital interests are prioritized over the historical legitimacy of Indigenous land rights.


IKN as a Globalization and Neoliberal Economic Project

Granting land for diplomatic compounds underscores that IKN is not merely a national project but part of a broader globalization and neoliberal economic strategy. In this framework, land is no longer regarded as cultural heritage or a fundamental right of Indigenous communities but as an asset to be traded or allocated to international actors with strategic interests in Indonesia.

Under neoliberal policies, such initiatives are often framed within narratives of modernization and foreign investment. However, the reality is that these policies reinforce social and economic inequalities. Indigenous communities, who should be integral to development, are instead marginalized, while foreign actors gain easy access without undergoing the same negotiations as local communities.


Who Really Benefits?

An analysis of IKN’s development and its diplomatic compound policy reveals clear contradictions in the government’s approach to land and Indigenous rights. While the state invokes national interest to evict Indigenous peoples, the same land is freely granted to foreign nations.

From Lawrence and Dua’s perspective, this is a form of neocolonialism, where Indigenous communities are sacrificed for development projects driven by global capital interests. If the government truly seeks to build a sustainable and inclusive capital, its policies should not only serve elites and international actors but also ensure Indigenous communities retain control over their ancestral lands.

Ultimately, the fundamental question remains: Is IKN’s development genuinely for the benefit of the Indonesian people, or is it merely a tool for political and economic elites to strengthen their dominance over lands that rightfully belong to Indigenous communities?