ATR/BPN Strengthens Human Rights-Based Agrarian Conflict Resolution

The Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) has stated its readiness to strengthen the handling of agrarian conflicts through policy improvements, enhanced cross-sector coordination, and an approach more oriented towards the protection of human rights. “Agrarian conflicts are not solely related to our duties and functions in the land sector. Within them lie issues of the right to life, the right to obtain justice, the right to a sense of security, and the right to a good and healthy environment,” said Deputy Minister of ATR/Deputy Head of BPN Ossy Dermawan in Jakarta on Tuesday. Deputy Minister Ossy stated that the ATR/BPN Ministry accepts the results of the study on the Human Rights-Based Agrarian Conflict Resolution Roadmap prepared by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). The study serves as input to strengthen the handling of agrarian conflicts. Ossy also appreciated the preparation of the study conducted by Komnas HAM over nearly three years, in which the document views agrarian conflict as a structural problem, requiring a more comprehensive resolution approach involving various ministries and agencies. Deputy Minister Ossy assessed that the study results and recommendations submitted by Komnas HAM constitute important input for the government in strengthening agrarian conflict resolution. The ranks of the ATR/BPN Ministry are ready to follow up on the various recommendations through strengthening cross-sector coordination, joint discussions on priority cases, and using them as material for formulating future land policies and regulations. “We will report the results of this study to the Minister. We also see an opportunity to strengthen the substance of agrarian conflict resolution through regulatory strengthening so that the resolution steps have an increasingly strong foundation,” said Deputy Minister Ossy in an official statement. The study was prepared as input for various ministries and agencies because the resolution of agrarian conflicts is not only related to the land sector but also to forestry, energy and mineral resources, and other interconnected sectors. “Human rights issues are multidimensional and multi-sectoral. Therefore, the recommendations of this study need to be input for relevant ministries and agencies, including in the discussion of ongoing regulations. Cross-sector collaboration is an important part of efforts to prevent recurring agrarian conflicts,” said Putu Elvina.