"Indonesia: New "catestrophic" footage shows uncontacted tribe near nickel mine," 30 October 2023

Dramatic new video has emerged showing members of an uncontacted Indigenous tribe in Indonesia warning outsiders to stay away, just a few meters from bulldozers destroying their forest. Campaigners have warned that it shows a human rights catastrophe is unfolding on Halmahera island, where logging and nickel mining operations are now penetrating the rainforest of uncontacted Hongana Manyawa people, risking their genocide.

... Companies including Tesla are investing billions in Indonesia’s plan to become a major nickel producer for the electric car battery market... An estimated 300 to 500 uncontacted Hongana Manyawa people live in the forested interior of Halmahera. Huge areas of their territory have been allocated to mining companies, and in many areas the excavators are already at work.

... The destruction of the Hongana Manyawa’s land is illegal under international law, which says that the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of the Hongana Manyawa is needed for any industrial project on their territory.