1,297 Merah Putih Cooperative Buildings in Central Java Stand on Protected Rice Fields

A total of 1,297 Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDKMP) buildings in Central Java Province have been found to stand on Protected Rice Fields (LSD). Acting Head of the Central Java Cooperatives and SMEs Office, Desy Arijani, revealed that while 8,523 KDKMP units have been established in the province, only around 63 percent, or 5,400 units, are currently operational. She acknowledged that 1,297 of these cooperative buildings are located on LSD, spread across 35 regencies and cities. Desy stated she does not know exactly why the buildings were erected on protected land, as the locations were determined through village deliberations and the construction was executed by PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara in cooperation with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). She noted that the fate of these buildings remains unclear, as resolving the issue involves other ministries such as the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN). Desy explained that regulations strictly prohibit the conversion of LSD, and while coordination with ATR/BPN and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing has occurred, no government decision has been made on whether the buildings will be legalised or removed. She added that the law requires replacement land three times the size of the converted area, which is difficult to implement. Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi previously stated that some KDKMP buildings are located on Sustainable Food Agricultural Land (LP2B), an issue that has been recorded by the National Strategy for Corruption Prevention (Stranas PK) team.