‘We can’t let this be taken too’: Indigenous leaders criticise Indonesia’s new capital

Indonesia is building its new capital city Nusantara to replace the current Jakarta. While the government has touted the creation as a smart and green city, some have expressed concerns of environmental degradation as well as displacement of local Indigenous communities. Members of the Balik tribe, who have lived in the area for generations, said on March 6, 2023, that they have refused to move because they feel the land is part of their identity. Others worry they will be unable to make a living once the construction of Nusantara is completed. Key buildings in the new capital are expected to be ready by August 2024.