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Rempang riot: Between land acquisition and human rights
Rather than promoting a repressive approach, the Job Creation Law calls for an expanded space for dialog within the land-acquisition process.
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Amok on street: Protesters throw stones at riot police on Sept. 11, 2023 to reject their resettlement following a rally outside the Batam Authority office building on Rempang Island, Riau Islands province. (Antara/Teguh Prihatna)
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land dispute set off violent clashes last week between local people on Rempang Island near Batam in the province of Riau Islands and security forces who strived to facilitate the implementation of what the central government has classified as national strategic projects to develop huge glass and photovoltaic panel factories in the area.
The fracas not only left several people injured and damaged houses but also halted learning activities for almost 4,300 elementary and junior high school pupils.
The state has neglected its duty to ensure the protection and basic rights of its citizens, especially children, to live a healthy life and to receive a proper education. The forced entry by combined police and military and the use of tear gas at the schools in several areas on the island have left severe psychological scars.
Furthermore, this incident has the potential to transform what was originally an administrative land issue into a human rights crisis.
It cannot be denied that land and humans are two entities that are interrelated. Therefore, it is not easy to separate individuals from the land they have long de facto occupied. Moreover, Government Regulation No. 24 of 1997 recognizes those who have de facto occupied a piece of land for 20 years as possessing it in good faith. The regulation states that those individuals are prioritized in the distribution of land rights by the state.
True, economic growth plays a crucial role in improving the living standards of a society. This rationale is the foundation of the national strategic projects in Rempang.
The central government and local administration assume that the development of the projects will contribute to the advancement of the local economy. Rempang is considered strategic as it is part of the Batam exclusive economic zone, which is very close to Singapore and Malaysia.
