Malvyandie Haryadi, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform has highlighted agrarian conflicts occurring in several areas, including in Pasuruan regency, East Java, and North Luwu regency in South Sulawesi.
The conflicts arose in connection with plans to build new military facilities on land previously cultivated by residents.
The coalition comprises several organisations including Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), the Indonesian Human Rights Legal Aid Association (PBHI), Amnesty International Indonesia (AII), the Institute for Public Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), the Human Right Working Group (HRWG), the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy, the Centra Initiative, Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) and the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH).
The coalition said that residents of Wates, Semedusari and Pasinan Villages in Lekok sub-district, Pasuruan, have rejected land acquisitions linked to the planned construction of a military headquarters.
Meanwhile, in Tana Lili sub-district, North Luwu, residents also expressed objections to a claim on land that will be used for the construction of a Territorial Development Battalion.
According to residents, the land has been cultivated for generations and is their source of livelihood. The Coalition believes that land disputes must be resolved through legal channels in accordance with applicable procedures.
"We are of the view that the execution of land rights cannot be carried out arbitrarily and must still follow legal procedures based on a court ruling. No form of land takeover cannot be justified", said Imparsial Director Ardi Manto Adiputra on Wednesday December 10.
He added that if there is a land ownership dispute, the law provides a resolution through the courts, not by deploying Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel to confront the people.
The Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) noted that throughout 2024, there were at least six agrarian conflicts related to the construction or use of military facilities, with the affected land area covering as much as 1,217 hectares and involving 307 families.
"We believe this trend has the potential to continue into 2025 if a resolution mechanism is not implemented through a formal process regulated by the land law".
Meanwhile, PBHI Chairperson Julius Ibrani warned that agrarian conflicts are a crucial issue because they are a source of fulfilling human rights, supporting people's livelihoods, welfare and the quality of life of individuals and communities.
"Agrarian conflicts, which are often accompanied by land grabbing and violence, will hinder the fulfillment of human rights and social justice", he said.
In a statement, the coalition made several recommendations, including requesting that the TNI Commander ensure that all TNI units halt land acquisitions that lack legal basis and ensure that all moves related to land are done through official mechanisms.
Furthermore, it requested that the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) expedite the resolution of the land disputes in Pasuruan and North Luwu.
- The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform statement can be viewed here: https://kontras.org/artikel/press-release-the-civil-society-coalition-for-security-sector-reform-in-response-to-land-grabbing-by-the-indonesian-military-tni-in-pasuruan-east-java-and-north-luwu-south-sulawesi
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil Ingatkan Pentingnya Proses Hukum dalam Sengketa Agraria di Jatim dan Sulsel".]
