Mining Land Dispute
The recently increasing land disputes in several areas in Indonesia became an interesting discussion in the RRI Morning Dialogue on Tuesday (3 / 1) at Studio 3 of RRI Bogor. Present as the resource person was Head of Conflict Resolution Studies and Empowerment (CARE), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Prof. Dr. Sumardjo.
In the discussion, Prof. Sumardjo cited that the conflicts that recently occurred were commonly due to lack of government regulation. They are also caused the injustice perceived by the community around the conflict regions. "People feel they have the right to live, while the company feels to hold the authority because it has the permit from the government. This has caused people to feel left out and unable to live there. The role of government is essential to minimize the occurrence of conflict, "said Prof. Sumardjo. The government should have a good relationship and also must be able to mediate the relationship between communities and mining companies that will build a community with the surrounding communities.
In answering the question-and-answer session with the audience via phone and Short Message Service (SMS), who asked about the legality of buying and selling of land with the only evidence of a letter signed on a priced on the stamp not on a sealed paper, Prof. Sumardjo said that this should be understood by the public as one of the causes of conflict. "The sale certificate must be of a sealed paper and includes a list of witnesses who sign the paper. Further, in order to make it more legal, it should be processed into an ownership right certificate for the related owner. This is also important to reduce the occurrence of conflict," said Prof. Sumardjo.
According to him, the main settlement of land disputes must involve the presence of legal certainty from the government, recognition of the rights and obligations of each party, synergic preceding, and fairness and being understood by the people around. "You must know the amendment, there should be dissemination to the community, extension, cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information. If there are voices that provoke conflicts, then the role of the Ministry of Communication and Information is required to mediate it," explains Prof. Sumardjo.
In closing, Prof. Sumardjo said, to reduce such cases as the incidence of Mesuji etc., there are some important things to be addressed by the governments, communities and companies that will manage the land (in this case the company that will buy the land), namely by conducting public awareness about the tradition, how things must be done, what to do and so on and how to raise public awareness so that they are not easily exploited by those who take the advantage from the public ignorance. Companies and governments must take a socialization approach for example through this method (RRI Dialogue). "Socialization can be done through other activities in the community to promote cooperation, regulation or legislations already set up. Do not wait until a conflict occurs, and only then a solution attempted," explained Prof. Sumardjo. (Mtd)
