Land conflict records in Indonesia throughout 2017

ILC| 29 December 2017

Land conflict records in Indonesia throughout 2017

 

Medium_kpa_catahu_2017
 

The raising number of the land conflicts highlighting this year’s records in Indonesia. More than six hundred thousand families living in more than five hundred acres of land were impacted. 

This year, plantation sector is still dominating the agrarian conflicts throughout the year. Two hundred and eight cases found, out of the total number of six hundred fifty nine conflicts on agrarian issues across Indonesia’s provinces. The number indicates a raise of fifty percent compare to last year. 

Viewing from the eye of the commodity, sawit plantation plays as the main contributor in boosting the conflict number. Colonialism style of plantation business scheme still can be found in many sites, and this has ignited many conflicts in this sector. The fact also being worsened by having 31 percent out of 11,67 million hectares sawit plantation, owned by the giant corporates instead of the locals. While at the same time, the country's moratorium policy is another driver in fuming the flame of the conflict.

These fact figures were presented yesterday, 29 December 2017 by Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria (KPA) during its Final Year Records Discussion. Dewi Kartika, KPA Secretary General also brought an issue where police officers were mostly taking part in any un-procedural criminalization actions toward the locals who were trying to defend for their land rights. Ironically, police officers tend to stood behind the giant corporates, which contribute the most in many disputes occurring throughout the year.

The other sectors contributing to land dispute according to the record are property and infrastructure sectors, sitting in a row at the second and the third position of the rank. This has been caused by the common perception that development is all about constructing toll road, housing, bridges, and dams. It is very less who understand, that development covers many other aspects than only infratructure building. It is also very few who translate Agrarian Reform as part of the country's development. 

These figures also has shown that Indonesia is sitting at the sixth position of the country with the highest gap in the world. This requires an urgent action from the Government of Indonesia, considering that Agrarian Reform is one of the government’s priority issue.

“Agrarian Reform is one of rapid, drastic, and timely restructuration operation which to be conducted systematically. Agrarian reform is not a partial policy, it instead a tool to cure the chronical disease of land ownership in a country” Dewi Kartika stated that during the closing.

She aware that huge homework is awaiting ahead, yet she keeps persistent and committed that the social movement would be able to bring agrarian justice in the country, by working hand in hand to reach the common goal. 
  •   ILC
  • 29 December 2017
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