Joint Press Release
On Monday, September 18, 2023, residents of Jorong Pigogah Patibubur in Nagari Air Bangis and residents of Bidar Alam in South Solok, accompanied by the National Executive of Walhi, Walhi West Sumatra, and LBH Padang. The communities reported cases of agrarian conflict and violations at these two locations.
They were received by Mr. Uli Parulian Sihombing, Coordinator of the Subcommission on Human Rights Enforcement, and other staff members at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
Community representatives from Nagari Air Bangis expressed their concerns regarding unilateral claims over production forest areas within their managed territory. This case has even led to the criminalization of smallholder farmers, who have been arrested and put on trial.
In addition, the existence of a Secondary HTR permit has also caused concern among the community, as it overlaps with their managed area. These permits arebacked by the police (Brimob) under the pretext of security. To date, the presence of Brimob in Air Bangis has only instilled fear and anxiety.
Meanwhile, residents of Nagari Bidar Alam have also reported the criminalization of farmers by PT RAP, who are accused of theft on their own land.
Meanwhile, Wengki Purwanto of Walhi West Sumatra stated that the state’s unilateral claims in the name of “State Forests” and “Forest Areas”—which stem from the authoritarian forestry policies of the New Order era—remain the root cause of the displacement of forest-adjacent communities and the disregard for the management rights of indigenous, local, and community-based groups over forests and natural resources.
Uli Parulian from Komnas HAM stated that the commission will monitor these two cases: the agrarian conflict, the PSN, and the presence of the West Sumatra Regional Police. Regarding the PSN, while a Letter of Intent (LoI) has indeed been issued, Komnas HAM will continue to monitor the situation because the project is located within the community’s managed area.
Komnas HAM has already met with the Governor of West Sumatra and the West Sumatra Regional Police. Komnas HAM will conduct a more in-depth investigation. Komnas HAM requires data so that the investigation can be carried out and optimized within this one-month period.
The National Executive Board of Walhi and Walhi West Sumatra are calling for the resolution of agrarian, forestry, and community-managed land conflicts to be addressed through restorative justice. The State must respect and protect the community in Nagari Air Bangis. Furthermore, the police must halt the criminalization of farmers in Bidar Alam. PT RAP is a company that has absolutely no rights to community lands. If this criminalization continues, it will undermine the rule of law, particularly in West Sumatra.
Diki Rafiqi, Advocacy Division Coordinator at LBH Padang, called for the State to restore the rights of the communities in Nagari Air Bangis and Bidar Alam. Furthermore, the criminalization of community members by law enforcement must cease. This is currently happening to six farmers in Bidar Alam. The neglect by the South Solok local government clearly constitutes a human rights violation against the people of Bidar Alam. Furthermore, the tenure conflict in Nagari Air Bangis stems from the state’s ongoing neglect.
Contact:
Tommy: 081288202488
Diki: +62 877-9446-2297