Non-government organisations oppose land acquisition regulation

Kompas – June 28, 2006
FSPI Secretary General Henry Saragih (CNN)
FSPI Secretary General Henry Saragih (CNN)

Jakarta – The People’s Coalition Against Land Evictions (KRTP) opposes Presidential Regulation Number 36/2005 on the Acquisition of Land for the Purpose of Development in the Public Interest as well as revisions to the regulation that flow out of Presidential Regulation Number 65/2006.

The groups opposing the law, which include the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA), the Indonesian Environment Forum (Walhi) and the Indonesian Farmers Federation (FSPI), say that their objections are based on the fact that the regulation favours the interests of investors. The secretary general of FSPI, Henry Saragih, said on Tuesday June 27 that the regulation also negates the 1960 Law on Agrarian Reform.

Saragih said that on the pretext of development, by using Presidential Regulating Number 65 the government can intentionally take people’s land away. Whereas what should exist according to Saragih, is a regulation that guarantees the provision of land to the people, particularly farmers. “The issuance of this presidential regulation will disappoint farmers and traditional societies because the government is defending the interests of investors rather than the people”, said Saragih.

Gunawan, from PBHI, said that the other issue that makes it appropriate to reject the presidential regulation is that it is a legal instrument that favours foreign capitalists. In the statement, the members of the non-government organisation said that they believe that presidential regulations 65 and 36 are a means to facilitate investment in infrastructure projects in Indonesia.

The secretary general of KPA, Usep Setiawan, said that it is apparent in Article 5 of Presidential Regulation Number 65 that it sides with investors. Policies promoting projects such as public roads, toll roads, drinking water and sanitation are regarded as a means for the government to hold the Infrastructure Summit II which is planned to be organised in October.

At the first meeting in January last year that was attended by investors in the field of infrastructure, the collation noted that the government promised to issue polices that would facilitate the entry of investment. (jos)

[Translated by James Balowski.]