Boundary Dispute Controversy: Hundreds of Sesandan Villagers Complain to Tabanan DPRD
Hundreds of residents from Sesandan Village, Tabanan Subdistrict, lodged a complaint with the Tabanan DPRD on Friday (27/3/2026) regarding the certainty of the boundary line between Sesandan Village and Buruan Village. The Sesandan Village side hopes that the Tabanan council can provide a solution to the polemic between the two customary villages concerning the territorial boundaries.
The aspirations of the Sesandan community were received by the Chairman of the Tabanan DPRD, I Nyoman Arnawa, accompanied by the Chairman of Commission I, I Gusti Nyoman Omardani.
The Secretary of the Sesandan Village Boundary Team, I Putu Aris Pratama Darmika, accompanied by the Customary Village Head of Sesandan, Ida Bagus Ketut Agra Suamita, stated after the aspiration session that the Sesandan village community hopes that Regent’s Regulation (Perbup) Number 7 of 2026 on the Determination and Affirmation of Sesandan Village Boundaries will be immediately revoked. According to him, the regulation contains elements of formal defects and prematurity.
Aris Pratama explained that the formal defect in question is the presence of deficiencies and errors in aspects of procedure, method, or form in a legal action, document, or decision that do not concern the substance or content.
“We see that the Perbup did not go through the correct formation procedure. There was no public consultation and it did not consider historical, sociological, and juridical aspects,” Aris Pratama emphasised.
Regarding prematurity, his side explained that the regulation was formed or implemented too early, before the requirements, legal basis, or necessary conditions were fully ready or fulfilled.
As a result, they request the Tabanan Regency Government to revert the boundaries of Sesandan Village to the original as per Perbup Number 31 of 2023 on the Determination and Affirmation of Sesandan Village Boundaries, which is based on historical references and the Digital Indonesia Base Map.
Meanwhile, Ida Bagus Ketut Agra Suamita added that the boundaries of Sesandan Village align with the digital map printed and published by the National Coordinating Agency for Surveys and Mapping in 1999.
“In addition, our village boundaries are official documents from the Military Area Topography or TOPDAM,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, they request that the gate (Apit Surang), which serves as a boundary marker inscribed with Buruan Village, be thoroughly reviewed by incorporating Perbup Number 31 of 2023 for Sesandan Village. According to Ida Bagus Ketut Agra Suamita, the gate structure was reportedly built in 2019.
“The gate or Apit Surang and the boundary marker inscribed with Buruan Village are actually and truly located in our territory in Sesandan Village. We request that it be regulated to prevent ongoing violations,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Tabanan DPRD, I Nyoman Arnawa, affirmed that his side appreciates the aspirations expressed by the Sesandan community. However, the Tabanan DPRD cannot yet decide on the community’s demands.
Nyoman Arnawa observed an administrative defect in the Perbup in this case. Therefore, the executive branch will be summoned soon for discussions to prevent the issue from dragging on.
“There are two Perbups that provide strong grounds for both villages to determine their boundaries. So we must conduct oversight and summon the executive because there is a Perbup issued with different meeting minutes,” Arnawa stated.
Additionally, Arnawa urged the Sesandan Village side to bring evidence such as maps, Perbups, agreements, and any other proofs they possess to serve as the basis for the joint summoning with the executive.
“I will follow this up with Commission I so that the resolution is clear. There may be a re-measurement later, which must be witnessed jointly by both parties,” he emphasised.
Arnawa hopes that fellow Balinese residents do not elbow each other and resolve this issue without emotion. This includes ensuring no evictions or expulsions from either side once the boundaries are clarified.