Aceh – Indonesia, Deputy Regent of Aceh Besar, Drs. Syukri A. Jalil, emphasized that recognition of customary law communities must be accompanied by concrete action to ensure their rights are protected and guaranteed during the regional development process.

According to him, discussions regarding customary law communities should not stop at debate forums. Every idea and input raised must be formulated into clear, measurable, and actionable recommendations for the local government.

Deputy Regent Syukri made these remarks while opening a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the role of district governments in accelerating the recognition, protection, and empowerment of customary law communities at the Dekranasda Aceh Besar Building, Gampong Gani, Ingin Jaya District, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

The FGD was part of a series of programs aimed at accelerating the recognition, protection, and empowerment of customary law communities in Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh Province. The event also featured the signing of a joint agreement by stakeholders.

Syukri stated that the FGD serves as a strategic platform to build a shared understanding among local governments, customary institutions, local communities, and various stakeholders concerned with the existence of customary law communities and their territories.

He expressed hope that the forum would yield formulations that are not merely conceptual, but serve as a foundation for the local government to determine subsequent steps and policies.

“What we expect from this forum is certainly not just discussion, but how the outcomes can produce clear recommendations that we can follow up on,” Syukri stated.

The Deputy Regent explained that recognizing customary law communities touches upon multiple sectors. Therefore, the process requires cross-departmental involvement across regional government agencies in line with their respective roles and authorities.

Aspects of governance, land affairs, the environment, social affairs, economy, community empowerment, and cultural preservation must be integrated into a single mutually supportive policy framework.

“Because of this, we need to build synergy between the local government, customary institutions, and communities at the mukim level. The policies we draft must genuinely reflect the conditions and needs of the people,” said Syukri.

He also invited all relevant regional government agencies to play an active role in strengthening the process of recognition, protection, and empowerment of customary law communities in Aceh Besar.

According to him, customary institutions and communities at the mukim level play a vital role in ensuring government policies remain aligned with values, local wisdom, and local social conditions.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Sub-directorate for Forestry at the Directorate of Synchronization of Local Government Affairs I, Directorate General of Regional Development at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dyah Sih Irawati, explained that local governments hold a crucial role in the recognition process of customary law communities.

According to Dyah, this process encompasses identification, inventorying, verification, validation, as well as the drafting of recommendations and necessary legal instruments.

“The process of state recognition of indigenous communities relies heavily on the crucial role of local governments. One form of recognition is through local regulations (Perda). In addition to regional regulations designating customary forests, a Regent’s Regulation and a decree establishing the customary law community committee are required as implementing regulations for the recognition and protection process,” she stated.

Dyah mentioned that the Aceh Besar Regency Government already possesses several regulations serving as the basis for recognizing and protecting customary law communities, including Aceh Besar Regent Regulation No. 17 of 2022, Qanun No. 8 of 2009, and Regent Decree No. 224 of 2024.

“Based on this decree, the Aceh Besar Regency Government officially recognizes and protects 68 mukim as customary law community units,” she said.

The Head of the Ancestral Domain Registration Agency (BRWA), Kasmita Widodo, expressed appreciation for the partnership built with the Aceh Besar Regency Government in strengthening the recognition of customary territories, customary forests, and community rights.

He hoped that collaboration between the central government, local governments, and development partners would continue to be strengthened so that protection for indigenous communities does not stop at administrative recognition.

According to him, such protection must also focus on strengthening community capacity to enable sustainable management of territories and natural resources.

Deputy Regent Syukri assessed that cross-sectoral synergy is an essential part of ensuring policies regarding customary law communities run consistently and deliver tangible benefits.

Through this FGD, various parties are expected to align data, policies, and programs so that the recognition, protection, and empowerment of customary law communities in Aceh Besar have a clearer trajectory.

“We hope that what was discussed today will genuinely translate into concrete steps to strengthen the protection of indigenous rights and support the development of Aceh Besar while continuing to honor custom and local wisdom,” he concluded.

Attending the event were the Chairman of the Aceh Customary Council (MAA) of Aceh Besar Regency, H. Anwar Ahmad SEAk, along with his staff, imum mukim, the Ancestral Domain Registration Agency (BRWA), development partners, and heads of several related regional government agencies (OPD). []