The Magibiri clan of Sirinumu has officially made history as the first of 14 clans in the region to acquire its Incorporated Land Group (ILG) Certificate. Formally recognized by the Department of Lands and Physical Planning on August 26, 2026 (under ILG No. 2025), this milestone grants the customary landowners a legal platform to protect their traditional interests and independently pursue sustainable economic developments.
The achievement marks the conclusion of a historical struggle spanning more than six decades (60 years). The Magibiri people were among the primary customary groups heavily displaced by the development of the Sirinumu Dam in 1963, enduring massive environmental damages and forced relocation from their ancestral landmass.
Clan members gathered this week at the Iarokrai picnic homestay on the Sogeri Plateau to celebrate the certificate's launch. During the event, an emotional Willie Kidu, the 38-year-old Secretary of the Magibiri clan, wept openly alongside Chairman Baradea Iomeri as he detailed the intense legal battles, heavy travel expenses, and emotional tolls endured to secure their land rights.
"The launching of this ILG must be viewed as the beginning of a new chapter of organized customary land participation," Kidu stated, noting that the certification establishes a formal, legal baseline for the clan to advance its business development master plans.
Clan Spokesman Roy Kunia highlighted that the ILG certificate unlocks vast potential for sustainable growth in fields like tourism, agriculture, environmental conservation, and local employment. He emphasized that while the Magibiri people recognize the national importance of infrastructure, economic progress must never erase the heritage or rights of traditional landowners.
"The history of Magibiri is a history of land, people, culture, displacement, resilience, and hope," Kunia said.
He further urged the remaining 14 clans within the Sirinumu area to aggressively pursue their own ILG certificates to secure their respective socio-economic futures.