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Land disputes give rise to ‘armed criminal group’ in Jambi's acacia forests
“Our sweetest memories are of the time when we didn’t have to buy chilis and other vegetables,” said Bu De, a member of the group.
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The land once controlled by Serikat Mandiri Batanghari (SMB) in Belanti Jaya village, Mersam district, Batanghari regency, was cleared in December 2019. (JP/Jon Afrizal)
A long history of land conflicts between residents and a pulp company in Batanghari regency, Jambi, has given birth to a band of farmers that has been called an “armed criminal group” by the police.
Authorities have painted a picture of armed bandits associated with farmers union Serikat Mandiri Batanghari (SMB) led by a man named Muslim and his wife, Deli Fitri. In July of last year, the police claimed they found a bunker containing dozens of firearms and drugs in the union’s possession during the arrest of 59 members.
The union members were arrested for allegedly assaulting fire fighters extinguishing a land fire. After the arrest, the authority burned the union’s farmland and public facilities. Thousands fled the area fearing for their safety.
The police called them an “armed criminal group”. The company considered them a threat to investment. But their lawyers, working pro bono at the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI), said they were residents who simply wanted to farm.
To learn more about the group, which claims a membership of 6,000, The Jakarta Post visited the disputed area in early December.
The land dispute involved the SMB, other residents in a cooperative called Koperasi Alam Sumber Sejahtera (KASS) and PT Wira Karyasakti (WKS), a subsidiary of the Sinar Mas Group, which focuses on forestry in Belanti Jaya village, Mersam district, Batanghari regency, Jambi.
