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Govt blamed in Lampung arson attack

Scholars and activists in Lampung say that the protest that led residents to set fire to PT BSMI’s buildings in Mesuji, Lampung, this weekend resulted from inadequate government efforts to resolve an agrarian dispute

Oyos Saroso H.N. (The Jakarta Post)
Bandar Lampung
Tue, February 28, 2012

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Govt blamed in Lampung arson attack

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cholars and activists in Lampung say that the protest that led residents to set fire to PT BSMI’s buildings in Mesuji, Lampung, this weekend resulted from inadequate government efforts to resolve an agrarian dispute.

The government lacked concrete steps for implementing the recommendations of the Mesuji Joint Fact Finding Team (TGPF), according to one legal expert.

“They failed to immediately follow up the TGPF’s recommendation with a legal business permit for PT BSMI,” Tisnanta, a lecturer from Lampung University’s law school and a former member of the Mesuji TGPF, said.

Hundreds of angry residents stormed the offices and facilities of plantation company PT Barat Selatan Makmur Investindo this weekend in what was thought to be spillover from an attack last year that led to the death of a resident.

Tisnanta said residents who claimed ownership of land controlled by PT BSMI were entitled to some legal certainty on their fate.

“They have lost their rights to the land for 17 years. They never obtained any profit from their palm oil farms managed by PT BSMI. Those might be the reasons the resident vented their anger and fought back,” he said.

According to Tisnanta, the National Land Agency (BPN), the plantation office, the Agriculture Ministry and other relevant agencies had failed to resolve the dispute.

“Given the fact finding team’s recommendations, government officials have taken not a single concrete step to restore the rights of society,” he said.

Tisnanta added that the status quo seemed to be deliberately maintained, with the regent-elect having not yet been inaugurated.

Separately, Bandar Lampung Legal Aid Institute (LBH) director Indra Firsada warned that the conflict might possibly escalate if not managed seriously.

“Residents have been demanding the revocation of PT BSMI’s concession permit because PT BSMI has been accused of not compensating them for the land use,” Indra said.

According to Indra, the company has not given residents compensation for the 7,000 hectares of their land that it has used for 17 years.

Meanwhile, Mukri Friatna, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment’s (Walhi) campaign manager, said there had been political negligence in Mesuji.

“Many from the political and bureaucratic elite are involved in the Mesuji case. Their involvement has caused obstacles in settling the case,” said Mukri.

According to Mukri, the belated inauguration of Mesuji Regent-elect Khamamik also indicated the potential involvement of the political elite.

“The home minister issued a written authorization for [Khamamik’s] appointment, but the Mesuji General Elections Commission and the [Mesuji Legislative] Council did not immediately respond to the minister’s order. They said they were still waiting for the legal process to finish,” Mukri said.

Lampung Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Sulistyaningsih said that officers were still investigating the arson attack.

“We are collecting more data, especially in connection with the text messages which we believe sparked the arson attack. We have yet to name a suspect,” Sulistyaningsih said.

PT BSMI manager Efenddy Sam said that company employees had been placed on leave and all activities halted following the attack.

“We are waiting for instructions from the management before taking further steps. The fate of our workers will also wait for policies from the proprietor. The company has not obtained earnings so there is the possibility that the workers will be suspended or laid off,” Efenddy said.

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