TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Kulon Progo airport development violates human rights: Komnas Ham

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham) has stated that the development of the new airport in Kulon Progo regency in Yogyakarta violates the rights of local residents, four of whom have been charged with vandalism

Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post)
Yogyakarta
Thu, May 21, 2015

Share This Article

Change Size

Kulon Progo airport development violates human rights: Komnas Ham

T

he National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham) has stated that the development of the new airport in Kulon Progo regency in Yogyakarta violates the rights of local residents, four of whom have been charged with vandalism.

Komnas Ham commissioner Dianto Bachriadi said on Thursday that farmers and land owners surrounding the development area had not received proper information regarding the affects of the project on their lives.

'€œThe authority has not met the farmers'€™ rights to information, the farmers then face uncertainties,'€ Dianto said. '€œThe right to information is part of their human rights,'€ he added.

Yogyakarta administration started the Kulon Progo airport development in 2011 to replace the overcrowded Adisutjipto International Airport.

The new airport project will require 645 hectares of productive land across Glagah, Palihan, Sindutan, Jangkaran, Kebon Rejo and Temon Kulon villages where 11,501 people live, according to the Wahana Tri Tunggal (WTT) organization established by the affected residents.

According to one farmer, Purwito, the government had yet to explain to the affected residents about land compensation or the relocation plan. '€œThey only explained about the project and whether we agreed or not,'€ he said.

The authority also barred the WTT members from attending the airport project socialization meeting and then accused four of them of destroying the Glagah village hall during a rally against the development plan, and brought them to court.

Kulon Progo regent Hasto Wardoyo said that the residents would only get information about the amount of land compensation and the relocation plan after the developer had completed more thorough data collection and appraisal. '€œ[The developer] has yet to reach that phase,'€ he said.

Yogyakarta Planning Agency head Haryanto previously said that the government had conducted the development process in line with proper procedures. '€œWe never intimidate [local people],'€ he said.(+++)

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.