Orang Rimba Demand Land Rights in Jambi Province
Why this is here: The article details 20 instances of social conflict involving the Orang Rimba over a nearly three-decade period, highlighting the tangible consequences of land encroachment on this indigenous group.
Dozens of Orang Rimba people protested at the Jambi Governor’s office in February 2026, demanding the state recognize and protect their ancestral lands. For decades, the Orang Rimba have witnessed their forests converted into palm oil plantations, logging concessions, and mines. They now request official recognition of their territories and a halt to new permits on their land.
In 2023, KKI Warsi estimated the Orang Rimba population at around 6,500 people. Most reside within Bukit Duabelas National Park, with others living in secondary forests and along the Trans-Sumatra highway. Anthropologist Adi Prasetijo recorded at least 20 social conflicts involving the Orang Rimba between 1997 and 2025, resulting in 35 casualties, including 18 deaths.
Walhi Jambi asserts the state has failed to acknowledge and respect indigenous community systems. They claim the government often uses administrative and security approaches that weaken traditional leaders and fracture community solidarity. Since 1982, Jambi province lost over 2 million hectares of forest due to policies prioritizing concessions.